For a Limited Time Only

I have already talked about change in the political arena (as neutrally as I can), but I want to talk a little more about personal change. I suppose this post is inspired by the changing weather--warm to cold--and the changing trees--green to red, yellow, and brown--and the fact that my thoughts have turned to how I have changed over the last several years.

How do we know when we've changed? It seems to me that when I think back to college, for example, I feel as though I am talking about another person entirely. It no longer feels like my life, but more like a story I read or a movie I watched. In most cases, the things I might have done with my time then are not at all what I like to do now.

Besides that, where I am in life is nothing like the plans I made for myself when I was starting out in the world. I wasn't sure I'd get married (did that several years ago), didn't think I'd have kids (I have a couple), and I was all about having a career (I barely believe in the concept at all anymore). My time on this earth is shorter, and getting shorter every minute, therefore my time is extremely valuable. I don't want to spend it in an office. I want to use that time to see the people I love. Maybe see something of the world while I'm still here to see it. Time is money only if all your time is spent trying to make money. For the rest of us post-college wage-slave types (products of parents who told us "go to college, get a job with a 401k, work until you're 65"), time and money are mutually exclusive; you either have lots of time or lots of money. If you find yourself with both, consider yourself extremely lucky.