Estimated reading time: 2 minute(s)

I made a quick trip to our grocery story tonight (the local IGA is about 1 mile from our house) to get some baking cocoa for some chocolate icing I was making for the chocolate cup cakes I had already made for my pregnant wife. 🙂 I really didn’t want to go – too much other stuff to do before the kids’ bedtime – but Jen really needed those cupcakes, and she really needed them to be chocolate.

So I went.

It was actually kind of peaceful. It had been a (mostly) day off full of kids, and I think that little bit of peacefulness was kind of enjoyable. 🙂 I found what I needed, and since what I needed was strewn across the store, I found a couple other good deals as well. It was a relaxing – yet fairly short – stroll through the market.

I was standing in the check out line when I saw a young guy – late teens, early twenties – come running up to his friends, although it was more like “bounding” than running. He came to a stop with one final leap. I smiled at his youthful energy.

Almost simultaneously, I chuckled at how old I must be. I had none of that vigor this night. I just felt very tired and worn out from the day. I was happy to just be standing there. “Am I that old??” I thought. Then just smiled, realizing that I probably am. 🙂

I took solace in the fact that I do at times still have almost that much energy. I would say it has dwindled a tad (not to mention that I am definitely out of shape as well) but there are still many moments that I feel that level of energy.

But not tonight. And for some reason, it was just a humorous glimpse at how I am definitely no longer in my early twenties.

And you know… that’s actually a really good thing. It’s kinda nice being old. What will be really funny is when Jen & I have watched our kids grow up, and maybe even our grandkids, and as we’re standing in line at the grocery store… maybe only able to walk very slowly… we’ll see some youthful character bounding down the aisles, and we’ll just laugh.

Maybe you are only as old as you feel. (Or is it, you feel as old as you are?) 🙂