Add life to your days. I found this quote on a social media post (author unknown) and found it to be worth pondering.
This quote seems a cliche at the surface, but to me it is quite profound. I think it is not about living longer as much as going “back” in time to do things that one regrets not to have done. It seems like almost a remedy to those worked towards success and forgot to enjoy success.
I am realizing at this juncture in my life, and I suspect quite a few others in my age group, the things that we wished we did in the past for various reasons. Currently, stymied, albeit with some more than the others, by the lack of agility, (slowly) deteriorating health conditions, and therefore the limitations that come with it, by becoming more risk averse and so on, how I wish I could add proverbial days to my life.
This image is a perfect example of not been able to add days to my life. It was taken couple of years ago, and there were many things I wish I did to get a good capture, but I didn’t. I was so focused on trying to get it right, that I forgot what is that I was trying get it right. That is irony for you.
It had all the elements of capturing Milkyway but none of them were at par. The Milkyway was present in a tantalizing way, teasing me, but the result lacked that oomph one expects from a Milkyway image.
I knew I cannot go back in time to do it right. The moment has passed. I have to make do with what I am left with, on that night.
Once I embraced the fact that I cannot add days to my life, I began my quest to add life to my (remaining) days, emphasis is on remaining. The sources of inspiration are many, my family, my friends, and my photography colleagues. One of the ways I have added life to my days is the weekly hike I do with two of my hiker friends. They both are avid hikers and are almost twice as fast as I am and with as much stamina as well. The underlying premise of that hike is one of fellowship. The hike is just the means. While reaping the benefits of a physical activity, the esprit de corps and bon homie that permeates the hike is just out of this world. We hike, actually they walk and I huff and puff, and at the end of the hike we end up at a pub for a bite and a drink. The ensuing conversations are so soul enriching. It is not that we discuss the weighty matters like world peace per se, but the comfort having the back of each of us, and knowing we are all there for each other is life affirming.
One common theme of our outings is that we talk about things that are almost always connected to us and connect us. That theme I took it as a basis and figured out a way to supplement and complement what I have, and metaphorically speaking added life to my days. I am quite chuffed about the outcome and am very happy to realize that it is possible to add life to your days and in fact one can do that no matter what stage of life they are in, it is a matter of how to balance working for success and enjoying that success.
A picture is worth thousand words, as the cliche goes. Here are my thousand words.
