How does one truly judge the answer to that question. One way is to ask yourself are you content in your life so far? Have you contributed in a positive way to our society? Is your family happy with you?
Well, I think everyone would think that there might be some instance in their life that they would like to have done differently. I know I had times in my younger days when I may not have been as compassionate with some of my acquaintances as I should have. Surely most of us have had a time in their past life where they did or did not do something that now they would love to change that instance? Frankly the determination of a well lived life is both personal and external. From your own image of yourself and that of those close to you and over your life. Are you respected, loved, and admired? Surely most of us would aspire to those attributes in our life. We all should strive to have the respect of our peers and family, and hope that at the end of our time on this old planet, we will be missed.
Overall, throughout my long life, I believe and do hope, that I have been a reasonably decent member of our human society. I served my country in our military (US Air Force) and wore that uniform proudly. I have been a reasonably successful worker/employee, senior manager, business person, husband and father.
I am father to three wonderful persons who as kids were responsible, were active in their schools, academically as well as sports activities. They did not indulge in activities that would cause a trip to the police station for their dad or mom. All in all, my three children were very good kids growing up and became solid compassionate and responsible adults with strong situation awareness.
My daughter was my first born child, she is a strong and competent person who attended college and university while holding down a full time position. She attained her Associates, Bachelors and Masters degrees all while fully employed. She now is a senior manager for a major corporation, owns her home and makes her old father so very proud of the strong woman she has become.
My middle child, my eldest son, died at the age of 44 from Meningococcal Disease (Bacterial Meningitis). He was a person who made friends quickly, was a good judge of character and person, made friends of many and those friends were lifelong. At his celebration of life, following his passing, over 250 of his friends and his family attended. He was an amazing athlete, attending university on a football scholarship, he excelled in golf and loved that game with a passion. So when he died, we held an annual golf classic for several years in his memory, with the funds being collected to the benefit a national association for Meningitis awareness. He was truly loved by many people and we mourn his loss every day, even now.
My youngest son is the father of four daughters, my angelic grand daughters. Two daughters are from his first marriage and the two younger daughters from his second, current marriage. They are all thoughtful, compassionate and caring women, strong in their bearing, and respectful of their parents, grand parents and other people in their circle of life. This son was injured in a work related accident over 25 years ago and his injury was such that he was determined to be fully disabled, but he is a strong personality, takes his disability and constant pain as a fact of life and soldiers on. He is strong in his faith and active in his church community. He loves his four daughters with a true father’s pride and awe, they are his shinning lights and his reason for being, in his mind. He loves and adores his wonderful wife and they evidence a wonderful caring relationship.
My wife is also a strong woman and of whom I love and am extremely proud. She is not only my wife, but my life partner and best friend. She has grown in her person from a relatively shy, retiring sort of person, to a nationally recognized expert in her profession. She conducts seminars and subject matter presentations to large audiences in various locations around the nation, she conducts regular educational instructive classes to assist others in their efforts to attain their professional certification. She has many papers and essays published in the trade journals of her professional field. And she is a constant helpmate for me as I age and grow less mobile.
So, now it comes down to me personally, and yes I am pretty satisfied with how my life has progressed. Of course there were some hiccups and bumps in the road. Some wrong decisions about my career path, an oversight in ignoring a financial investment opportunity that in looking back would have caused me to become a very wealthy person, but alas such is life. Still in all, a good life with some significant successes to look back on, When I contemplate where I came from in life, my beautiful family, how I lived and worked, and where I am today, I can feel that yes, it has certainly been a live well lived.
So, what about you? A life well lived at this point?
Musings of a Geriatric Curmudgeon 