I've Had The Time Of My Life

WOW, what an interesting life I've had.  As a kid I had lots of fun.  Sports, games and just enjoying my friends.  Some of the school classes I liked (science - my favorite) and some I didn't like (History - UGH).  I never read a book in school.  I would get the Cliff Notes, which was a much shorter version of the real book, and write fabulous book reports.


We didn't have money so College was out of the question.  I wanted to get a trade and found a school offering classes in car mechanics, ex-ray technician and other classes.  One of them was this machine that had lots of lights blinking.  I went to the registrar and said I wanted to sign up for the class with the blinking lights machine.  She signed me up for computer programming. 


My entire love of my job happened by chance - a machine with blinking lights.  I don't believe I would have been nearly as happy if I became a car mechanic instead. I was a great computer programmer.  One reason I was so good was because I loved writing code - it was my art.  Another reason was because the entire computer field was extremely interesting to me.


Being good had its downside.  They made me a manager.  This was happening at the same time I was married and had two small children.  I was getting more money as a manager, but the burden of managing both work and family was getting me down.  The fun of being a great programmer was leaving my life.  


BTW, if I would have stayed as a programmer, I would be rich now.  Today, great programmers get lots of money and the best ones join start-ups and get rich.  Back then, programmers got paid no more than car mechanics.


The next fifteen years of my life were not the best.  Too much stress, too many people to manage, too much politics, two divorces, three thousand miles away from the friends and family I grew up with and too many money problems.


At thirty nine everything started to turn around for me.  I got a mentor, I got a new wife, I got a new job and I got a new attitude about job, friends, family, money, ego, security and life in general.  My jobs were still stressful (especially the politics part), however I could live with it because, for the first time in my life, I believed I was in control of my happiness.


At sixty two I retired.  These are the best years of my life.  Yes, I'm older, but I'm doing all the things that make me happy.  I can look back at the worst of times and still smile because I came out the other end with a great life.  I realize if I didn't have the hard times, I might not be as appreciative of today's time and my future times.


I'm a lifer.  I've always been a lifer, I just didn't realize it during the bad times.  I wake up every day being thankful that I woke up, have a nice home, a great wife, a great dog, good friends and able to do the things that make me happy.


WOW, I have had the time of my life and still do.  Where are you?  Are you having the time of your life?  If yes, do you appreciate life?  If no, do you believe you will have the time of your life in the future?  Do you believe having the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat is a good thing?  Do you realize that getting through a bad time will make you stronger and more appreciative of life?  If your life is great, do you share it with others - you know, that positive energy thing?

Most Importantly, do you believe you have control of your happiness?  I believe you do if you want it bad enough!