Today is my birthday. I should write something because, when it comes to content creation, this is about as consistent as I have been over the last few years.

As I close out one year and move into the next I pull on the same introspective threads as I do every year… This year, however, I thought it would be an interesting exercise to ask the boys for their thoughts.

Aiden (17), what advice do you have for a new 37 year old?

“You literally only have one life, so be so repulsed at the idea of wasting it that you do everything you want to do.”

Carter (11), what advice do you have for a new 37 year old?

“Live your life with no regrets.”

I asked them separately so they didn’t hear the others response but how interesting that both messages carry the same undertone. It is also very interesting that my first instinct is to dismiss their responses because ‘they don’t understand’… you speak of living your life with no regrets but you have never had a mortgage, or student loans or kids that like fast internet.

What better source for advice than one you can immediately dismiss if you don’t like what is said.

Everyone lives two lives. The second one starts when you realize you only have one.

someone on the internet

I heard that quote recently and it really resonated with me. Once you make that realization you can’t un-make it. You cannot go back. So now what…

Well, I have no idea, obviously, I am asking my kids for advice. And I should take it. I could use a little more no-regret in my everyday, my every month, my decision making.

Obviously you can’t go crazy with this approach… What, are you going to sell the house and move your family… what will the kids do? Well, we did just that, and guess what, the kids are just fine. They actually like the new house and their new schools better than the old ones. Hmmm…

I think as we get older, speaking from experience, we tend to curb our opportunities with these limiting beliefs. For example, the kids will never be able to adjust so we shouldn’t move… Often times, I think we use these as a coping mechanism to make ourselves feel better about the things that we aren’t doing. It sure sounds better than ‘I am afraid.’

Well guess what, the kids are alright.

This year I would really like to spend more time exploring those limiting beliefs. I would like to understand them. Stress test them. Call bullshit on them. I want to know…

Here is to 37.

– Nate