Several years ago, I bought a stand up video game that had many of the classics from the early '80s. This was bought as a Christmas gift for the whole family, but everyone knew who the gift was really for – me. One of the games I was most excited about was “Robotron.” I had put many quarters into a machine trying to master this particular game. Now I had one of my own and I could play all I wanted for free. I played the game a lot and with much enthusiasm for several weeks until I finally became bored and eventually lost interest. It was still the same game, but much of the thrill had gone out it.
I had the pleasure of celebrating my 47th birthday last Sunday. It was fairly uneventful, and I spent much of it driving home by myself after watching my daughter perform her first solo dance routine at a competition up north. The ride gave me the opportunity to reflect on the day and what birthdays mean to me at my advanced age. I pondered the fact that if we are not careful, the thrill of living can pass us by and we will often find ourselves spending our days merely surviving or getting by and not taking true joy in the life we have and those we have to share it with us.
About ten miles from home, it struck me like a two by four across the face: The feelings that I was having about growing old were very similar to the feelings I now have toward my game upstairs. I still like the game, I have simply lost the excitement of playing. Actually, I did not lose anything, I simply forgot how much I really enjoyed playing the game, even if I did not play as often as I used to. I still enjoy life, but I have tended to let the hum drum daily routine take away some of the glitter and thrill from the excitement of living every day to the fullest. What I was not doing was sucking the marrow out of life.
I have decided that my 47th Birthday Resolution shall be to do just that. I will not think of my life as an old toy that no longer excites me; rather, I will strive to remember the excitement of living that came along with youth, while trying not to forget that the time that I have left here on Earth is at least 47 years shorter than it was when I started. It is hard to imagine that I am now on the downhill slide of this adventure.
Life can be a tough obstacle course to go through and still keep a positive attitude. Treating life as a challenge, rather than an obstacle course, might be the first step in changing the way we look at life. Accepting the challenges of life and enjoying the ride, even when heading straight up a hill, might not always be easy, but it is better than the alternative. The alternative is no different than waiting in line to renew the tags on your car. It is nothing more than wasted time. Time is too precious to waste; that is especially true for those of us way up in the CHEAP SEATS!
Bill James is a criminal defense attorney and co-founder of the James Law Firm with offices in Little Rock, Conway, and Fayetteville. He can be contacted at Bill@ JamesLaw.com.