I just had a chat with a neighbor. “The world today, yadda yadda yadda.” We both are about the same age. We have the same number of kids, also about the same age.
His future is smaller than his past. He expressed satisfaction that he’s on his way out—unlike his kids and mine, who are starting on the path of adulthood. He is winding down. Reeeeetired. Going nowhere. Literally and figuratively. He will die in his house.
Imagine living in that brain! I can scarcely sleep a full night with all the stuff happening in my life. My future is bigger than my past, without a doubt.
My wife’s future is exponentially bigger than it was 6 years ago. She tapped an unsuspected yearning and talent in business, and discovered . . . I don’t know (and I think even she doesn’t fully know), but she continues to find new excitement and new horizons.
So what’s it going to be? Is your future full of new, exciting, massive achievements and discoveries? It should be and it can be. At any age. My wife and I are examples.
Or is it:
My neighbor is already dead. He just has a couple of decades of walking the dog to look forward to, but he is dead.
By the way. When talking with a pre-dead or negative person, it’s important to not mentally assent to their dead mindset. Play the good reply game. Listen and in your head say, “Well, that’s a thought. There are other thoughts.” And especially reply to every complaint (politicians, taxes, whatever) with a positive counter-proposal that involves personal action required.
It’s good for you and it’s good for them. Their evil magic has no power here.