Him: So how’s married life?
Me: Oh, about the same except I have to raise my hand before I speak.
Him (puzzled)
Me: I’m kidding! (pause) She doesn’t let me speak.
Him: Funny boy. (laughs) It’s amazing she married you.
Me: I know, right?
My buddy Cain once said that when he got married, cause he was living with his wife at the time, it felt only like 5% different. That’s true. And 5%’s both a lot and a little at the same time.
I asked this once years ago – how many days do you think you live for?
- US citizens live, on average, 78.4 years.
- Women in the US live for 79.10 years (28,871 days)
- Men get their ticket punched earlier at 72.2 years (26,353 days)
Me? I’ve lived for about 13,700 days, give or take. That means that I’ve used up more than 50% of my allotted time. It’s parta what keeps me up at night: what on earth have I done with myself?
Onea my fave quotes is from this fella named Lou Gerstner who, when asked if he was worried, said, I don’t have a sense of crisis, I have a sense of urgency that never changes, whether we’re doing well or we’re doing poorly.
When I was younger, I was pretty anxious – grades, social standing, money, etc. Think the thing that’s changed the most with age for me is that it’s gone from anxiety to urgency. And if anxiety is the fear of the hypothetical, urgency is the fuel to ambition.
There’s a sense that I’m running outta time. Time to do all the things I’ve wanted to do, learn all I can. Now that sense has increased by 5%.
Got a wife now; if I’m lucky, maybe I’ll get some kids some day. That sensea urgency’s only getting stronger.
Only got 12,653 days left; figure only halfa that – 6,326 days – to really get something done.
Location: getting ready to get to Brooklyn
Mood: ambitious
Music: Ticking away the moments That make up a dull day
YASYCTAI: Apply for things to see what happens. (120 mins/1 pt)
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9 replies on “Anxiety is the fear of the hypothetical; Urgency is the fuel to ambition”
i've been away from ur blog too long. congrats to you and hg. best wishes!
Holy cow – where have you been? *How* have you been?
in the ether, as u might say?
having existential crisis. figuring out the meaning of life and my existance.
finding a new job, new career, purpose.
that's all! that only took me…. 32 years.
Well, that's great – it took me about that look too. Are you blogging?
nein. i don't have the patience to set one up. it's on my list of things to do but never gets done. someday, my friend! it's not a priority right now. how's the married life?
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