These Are the Good Old Days

The other night I dropped by our neighborhood health food store, and the cashier noticed my sweatshirt with my Eastern Michigan University college logo on it. He asked me if I was a graduate, and I told him I was. He then explained to me, that he was a senior at my alma mater, and he really enjoyed attending there. He shared with me, all the activities he was involved in at the university. I commented how much fun I had, and how much I had learned, not just about the classes I took, but the people I met, and the experiences I had.

As I drove away, I started thinking about some of those past memories I experienced as an undergraduate. Ahh, those were the good old days that seemed so carefree and enjoyable. I thought of some of my roommates and the friends I knew at the time, some of the part time jobs I worked on campus, and the girl friends I dated. Those were indeed good times.

Those thoughts led me to the memories I had of my first full time job after graduation, I remembered, which was a parks and recreation director. Again I began to think about some of the new friendships I developed and the people I hired and helped through my position as director.

It suddenly dawned on me, that I was having even more fun in the present moment, than I had had back in college. It became clear that this was happening because I was so much more aware of the potential of my talents and abilities and was using them. It became clear to me that I was living in the present, where in some ways, I had far more going for myself than I had when I was much younger.

My experience and knowledge base has grown by quantum leaps. I am more confident, expressive, and outgoing than I had ever been when I was younger. Here in the present, I have far more friends and am happily married. This was something I did not have in my younger days.

All of this thinking suddenly reminded me of the song by Carly Simon titled, “These Are the Good Old Days.” One can easily forget that, despite the mini crisis’s we all experience from time to time, the present moment still can be the best of times. It is the best because it is something we can fully appreciate with all five of our senses. We have friends and family and our desire to experience the present moment to the fullest. “These Are the Good Old Days,” and we just have to keep reminding ourselves to appreciate them and live them fully.

Tom Borg is president of Tom Borg Consulting, LLC. He is a business consultant, speaker, coach and author. He helps companies and organization become more profitable by increasing their value and lowering their costs through the professional development of their managers and employees. Please see more of his blogs at ConstructionJobForceblog.com and view additional job postings at Nexxt