Real Choices

Bob Choi

12 March 2012

When we were young, we often entertained the question: If you had a choice, would you choose a short and glorious life or a long and ordinary one? The question was hypothetical because we really did not have a choice between the two. How long one lives is mostly beyond one's control (except in the case of suicide).

Now that we all have lived a reasonably "long" life, we may start entertain the question: Do I want to have a long and ordinary life or a long and exciting life? We might not have too many years left, but there's still time for us to make a difference between "exciting" and "ordinary".

Some of us might feel that it's exciting to go on trips at least once a month, kind of a "perpetual vacation"... in fact they never unpack their suitcases! Some of us prefer to continue with our work as we have been for the last 30 or maybe 40 years. To them, work is a source of excitement... they will get bored if they don't work! Look among our NMCers, you will find examples of both extremes and the majority probably lie somewhere in between.

The best advice is to start each new day with a sense of excitement (no matter how you define it) and never let your age deter you. You're never too old to do what you truly wanted, to take on new challenges, to venture outside your comfort zone, to try something you have never done before. You see, age is now on our side... we shouldn't have to worry about dying young, not anymore!