Aarti
My loved ones made one final appearance as that group. Next to a leased car in a place 400 miles from home, the inevitability of life-changing advancement was at hand. Those preceding 18 years were a joy to me. Her eyes glanced up at me expectantly as I stood there trying to find the appropriate words. “Make smart decisions,” I said. That’s why I’m saying, “I’m so proud of you.” My exterior remained strong in case she ever needed it, but my heart ached to keep guarding her forever. The thing is, I had to let go. The time had come for college and the future.
Do you fight the changes that you know will benefit your life and family in the long run? As males, we need to be flexible enough to deal with the inevitable changes that will come our way. Recognizing the truth is the first step toward making a constructive change. Here are three major shifts in perspective we must make if we want to maintain making progress in life.
1. We’re getting older.
That’s right, I hit the big 5-0 not too long ago. Despite my lack of enthusiasm, the date finally arrived. There are benefits and difficulties to being of varying ages. While my newfound ability to save money on hotel stays is nice, I also have to remember that sugar and salt are my enemies. We need to start making preparations for an empty nest now in my marriage. How can we continue to get along and prosper once we have kids? Many males worry about getting old. They have a dangerous propensity for living in the past. Don’t be that person who lags behind the times by a decade or more. Take pride in your age and the time of year it is.
2. Our children grow up.
As a parent, this has been one of my toughest challenges. I’m sad when a new phase of parenting begins since I’ve loved every one so much. My youngest daughter, who is almost 18, hates that I want her to behave like she did when she was ten years old. This version of herself is the one she needs my acceptance of. Whatever it is—how she dresses, how I interact with her, how much I trust her, or how much freedom I offer her to follow her own interests—I need to give her the independence she needs at her age.
3. Marriages and relationships evolve.
“We just drifted apart” is a common argument given by divorcing spouses. Why, therefore, did they start to grow apart? Most of the time, the explanation is that people evolve. If you wish to avoid drifting away, start by enduring physical, emotional, and philosophical changes together. My pastor, for example, tied the knot with a smart, ambitious woman. She persevered through a lot of pain and suffering, and is now confined to a wheelchair. The physical difficulty she faces is equally his. They were able to adapt to their new circumstances jointly because of this.
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