The Best is always yet to come

​A buddy I've had since the third grade sent me this picture yesterday. The first sentence in his text simply said, "throwback to simpler times."

I looked at the picture for a bit. The picture is thrown so daggone far back I don't really remember the 'times.' But it doesn't take much looking at it to know, they were simpler times in some ways. And maybe in other ways - not so much.

I found myself asking, though, not were times simpler in the throwback; I found myself asking - would I GO BACK to the throwback.

And no. No I wouldn't.

I suppose that boils down to a couple of things.

More than ever, I believe life is to be lived - not re-lived. Whether times in the past were simpler or harder, reflecting on them can be good. But going back too often, re-living life in those times - I think that only serves to rob you of the joy available in THESE times.

There is also this. And it's a big this. I truly believe my best days are ahead of me. Because of that, I don't want to look at one single day behind me as a place I'd rather be than the day I'm living, and the hope found in the day to come.

Yesterdays - the good and the bad - they can hang clouds over the light of today and tomorrow if you let them.

Well I won't let them; I choose the light of this day. I think that makes any time the simplest of times.

I will point this out, though. Getting a text from an old buddy who was digging through some old stuff and chose to send me a memory of simpler times. That is priceless. I'm not sure we all fully understand the power of that kind of gesture.

So please, if you feel called to share simpler times memories with someone - do it - chances are they need it.

I actually sent this picture to my boys. I told them, SEE dudes - I DID have hair.

Ian responded, 'back in the 1700s, yeah..."

Well, I did say it's a throwback, didn't I?🤷‍♂️

Throwbacks are good, but I truly believe if we look at today the right way, the best is always yet to come.