He's a self-employed CPA in the real world who keeps fit in the gym 2-3 times per week lifting weights along with outdoors cycling on his road bike for 40 plus miles per week (weather permitting). He served as guest blogger here at Pierini Fitness five years ago today and was recently invited back to give another of his middle-aged man home run perspectives. Enjoy today's read.
I have two young friends, ages 27 and 20, who live in my
neighborhood and are die-hard San Francisco Giants baseball fans. Back in early July of this year both were
very demonstrably “giving up” on the Giants baseball season. They said (more or less), “The Giants
stink!! They’re not going anywhere!” All
while throwing their hands up in the air in frustration and hanging their
heads.
I calmly tried to get them to remember that the Giants were
only a handful of games out of first place. That the team had many fine
players, a great manager and was staying reasonably healthy. These arguments did not persuade them. They even refused to watch any more Giants
games on television – it was simply too painful.
So what happened? On
the last day of the season the Giants snuck into the playoffs as a wild card
team, and then promptly ran the table and were crowned world champions in late
October. Who would have thunk it?!
One of the great benefits of being a middle-aged dude is
that my capacity to enjoy some patience has increased over the years. Don’t get me wrong, it is still a daily
battle. And I still have my moments of
annoyance, irritation and touchiness.
But . . . I’m a whole lot more patient than when I was the age of my young
friends.
And isn’t that a blessing?!
A year ago in December 2013 I had the good fortune to go on
retreat at a local retreat center. We were meditating on the season of Advent –
the few weeks that precede Christmas.
The presenter was telling us how Advent is a time of preparation, of
patience, of waiting for the goodness of Christ to come into the world.
And then he said - that patiently waiting for good things to
happen is a great way to go through life.
That sounded right to me, so I made it a point to try and live that way
the next twelve months. And what
happened? It’s all good! My life has grown and blossomed in so many ways
this year: I have enjoyed a marked increase in my business; my personal life is
rebounding after a major family challenge; I'm composing more and better piano pieces than
ever before….and the Giants won the World Series.
I have enjoyed all of this and more, just by exercising a
little patience.
Now again it is the season of Advent, and I have been on
retreat, and am renewing my commitment to live the next year patiently waiting
for good things to happen. And they are
happening. And, I pray, will continue to
happen.
Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum
If you enjoyed Jim's guest middle-aged man blogflection today, click this link to read one Jim wrote five years ago today.
We will all do it together
Merry Christmas 2014 from Pierini Fitness in the language of my ancestors.
If you enjoyed Jim's guest middle-aged man blogflection today, click this link to read one Jim wrote five years ago today.
We will all do it together
Merry Christmas 2014 from Pierini Fitness in the language of my ancestors.
