Having it all isn’t exactly the answer. I say this with all the respect in the world. I’m aware I have so much that others would love to have. It’s much easier to be on the outside looking in.

I would know. I was once that kid on the outside looking in. I remember wondering what it would feel like to afford to pay for my date’s movie tickets. Hindsight is always 20/20 because I look back now and know that I had much more even then, and I didn’t appreciate it. I was always wanting more. Who would have thought, right? Me looking back and apologizing to my younger self for not enjoying more of the journey.

That kid was dating to marry and was looking forward to building kids, spending the holidays with the family and her, and taking all the pictures in the world of us together, traveling through everywhere we could travel. I lost the excitement of the little things, the picnic dates at the park. The long walk to Sonic on a summer night to pick up a slushy. Those were the days, and I had no idea.

I hate to make difficult promises that will be hard to keep, but I promise not to belittle these moments. No longer will I be looking forward to the following weekend with a free weekend to do whatever is coming up. I won’t look forward to a travel destination when I have months in advance of days that could be some of the best of my life.

My younger self steals the spotlight because he had it pretty good, but I promise to that younger kid that my best days are still ahead of me.