Old Dog…..New Tricks???
Some times I feel like an old dog.
I’m 30 years old…ya ya I know, I’m not old or even close to considering my self old or even older. However, there are some tweaks I am working on making in m life. Nothing major or profound, just things like getting up earlier to read and pray on a consistent basis, reading a book every three months, exercising regularly, having more play time with my kids and more alone time with Amberly (my amazing wife for those of you who might not know), the list is longer but I wont bore you with it; simple they are things I want to add to my daily life because I see great value in them. This however seems to be a challenge and a formidable one at that. I hate to admit it! It should be nothing at all.
When I was a bit younger late nights and early mornings had NO AFFECT on me at all. I could add to or take away from my schedule at anytime with no difficulty what so ever. It seemed easy to begin something and keep up with it, to initiate new habits and patterns in everyday life and make them stick. However it seems more difficult now to do this. It’s not because I have four kids or because we have been married for nearly 11 years or because I’m 30 or anything like that. I think it’s because I woke up one morning (unknowingly) having set most of my patterns and habits in a mold. You know, kind of like trying to teach an old dog new tricks. I have learned my tricks and learning new ones can be a challenge.
This isn’t to say that change is impossible or even frustrating. I think it’s just a fact of life. As we get older initiating change becomes harder. Patterns and habits get set and determined without us eve knowing it or realizing it. Kind of like when you reach a certain age and suddenly the music you grew up with is now on the 80′s & 90′s station soon to be on the classic stations. When the hip hop and rap you used to bump to is now “throwback”…you know…., “there’s no school like the old school.”
I guess with all that said, I enjoy getting older. Whether or not implementing changes into my routine is harder than it used to be and as I might not have been so persistent at a younger age, I know the value in change that causes growth both spiritually and personally. I don’t ever want to reach a point in my life where I feel that I don’t need any more personal or spiritual improvements. I want to get better with time. I have three sons, a daughter and I’m married to they love of my life….I want to improve as we move down this journey of life together….they deserve it.
“Practice who you desire to be now, so when your older you are that person”
Set your goals high, evaluate your self (often), and be an old dog with new tricks!
