(Life) 2024 Reflections
Grounded in Balance: Reflections on Time, Youth, and Wisdom
Adulthood brings a growing awareness of time’s limits, a stark contrast to how we perceive it at different stages of life.
- Children see endless horizons
- Younger adults realize time is not as infinite as it once seemed
- And elders feel its weight, reflecting on what happened and what mattered.
These stages coexist, each shaping how we live and what we prioritize.
Perspectives on time vary a lot. You’ll have a businessan measure every minute of their day, others let it drift by unnoticed, and many find themselves jumping in between the two forms. Over the course of one’s life, these views shift with wisdom, circumstances, and changing priorities. Engaging with these points of views keeps us grounded, reminding us to live with intention and gratitude.
The youngest in my life (family, church goers) inspire me to stay present. Their curiosity and joy are infectious, pulling me out of my head and into the moment. Whether it’s a baby fascinated by simply shaking a plastic ball in a box or a child’s endless questions. They remind me of the beauty in seeing the world with unfiltered wonder. Nothing to do with making money, no grand schemes for some other plan they’re hiding, etc. Just raw curiosity and it satisfies them to chase for the answers. They are what roots geniuness in this world.
On the other end, elders bring clarity and depth. Their stories and reflections show what mattered in hindsight, what bore fruit, and what was ultimately fleeting. Their wisdom doesn’t weigh you down if you’re careful. Instead it guides. Revealing the lessons only a long life can teach.
These two ends of the youth and reflective old age anchor us. The young remind us to dream and explore; elders teach us to focus on what lasts. While these perspectives aren’t reserved to people who are that age, they’re often most seen to us in their most vivid forms at these stages.
Of course time with peers who are the same age as you is equally important (speaking as a young adult). They walk alongside us, sharing lessons, struggles, and growth in real time.
Time is finite, but within its boundaries lies infinite potential (corny I know). To live well is to cherish the present, learn and honor from the past, while nurturing hope for the future. It’s a balance that keeps us grounded, intentional, and alive to the beauty of the journey at every stage. A reminder we need told to us here and there.
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” — Psalm 90:12
On that note, I thank the small few people who somehow stumbled upon this end of year essay. It’s different from my last annual update, but I think I like this.
We’ll see what happens next year. I don’t think Yonathan or Branden will join this year given their absence from participating in this last year. So I don’t want to make any promises, but I’ll add their yearly essays if they do.
Life often feels like a series of hurricanes that violently unearths things. The gems, heaps of trash, and the unshakable elements that rightfully withstand it all. This year, I grew stronger in areas I wanted to improve. I learned about weaknesses I didn’t know I had. And I move forward with hope. I will make the best of the upcoming year and try my best to accomplish even more.
Until next time, ciao