A Bit of Aged Hindsight

I recently celebrated my 87th birthday with a small group of friends—college buddies from Rutgers, class of 1961. They were full of advice for me, such as ideas about how to avoid tripping and falling and to remember to always put socks on before pants. Things like that. And then there was the urological advice: never pass an airport restroom without stopping if you are getting on a flight. We had some good laughs. But I know their words were an expression of affection for me and meant to ensure my good health for years to come.

After hearing out their kind thoughts and concerns, I countered with some words of wisdom of my own, something I ask myself nearly every morning, and that keeps me going: what is your purpose today? I mean more than just a daily schedule, which is printed out for me each evening before I leave the office, and by which I allocate my time. I need a purpose. A reason for being after my coffee and the New York Times. A reason to roll up my sleeves and head to work and to do whatever else is scheduled for the day. It can mean a short-term goal, or an ever-present focus on something larger or long-term, or it can be your life’s purpose. Sometimes it is all wrapped up as one, resulting in meaningful time spent doing something that makes one happy and content. There will always be something that knocks you off course, distracting you from your purpose, large or small. Yet return to the runway we must. Like in that old Frank Sinatra song: “Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again.” I’ve picked myself up a few times in life – more than I care to count. But even when down, I’ve always made it a point to keep looking up. Frank said it all.