Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.

Ecclesiastes 7:10

I had a birthday, so that probably started it.

I woke up that morning, and instead of filling my mind with current events, I did something I rarely do. I asked Alexa to play me some music. Chopin, specifically.

Why don’t I do this more? It was gentle, and complex, and beautiful. The next piece began, and I was stunned.

I had played this.

Back in the day, I was a pretty accomplished piano player. I took lessons from age 5 up through college, where I was playing some really advanced stuff. I was even invited to play a Mozart concerto with the Winfield Regional Symphony!

I turned down the opportunity. I was a music composition major, and I was writing a musical at the time. I just couldn’t invest the practice required. It was a tough choice, but I never regretted it.

Until now.

I realized sadly that I let it all go. I can’t remember any of the Mozart, Beethoven, Ginastera, or Chopin I had mastered. Heck, even my songwriting has fallen by the wayside.

Looking back, I had no idea how good I had it, back in those glory days.

Do you remember the Bruce Springsteen song? He’s sitting in a bar with some of his old school friends, and all they can talk about is their glory days. I never thought I’d be that guy!

Did I really peak before the age of 25? I had so many incredible opportunities, some taken and some not. What I DIDN’T have was debt, aging parents, and paralyzing concern about the state of the world.

Now, here I am, suddenly eligible for senior discounts, and I find myself wistfully reliving former achievements, and the roads not taken.

Kohelet, author of the wisdom in Ecclesiastes, talks about “a time for every season”. In the scripture above, he cautions us to not get caught up thinking about those glory days. In the very next verse he reminds us that wisdom is like an inheritance, and a very lucky thing to have.

He’s right. I am, today, the product of all the choices I’ve made (or didn’t make). The exuberance of my youth has been replaced with a deeper understanding of the world, and my place in it. My faith has grown, too.

I probably won’t be learning any Chopin any time soon, but as I listen now, I swear I have developed a deeper appreciation for the music. It resonates with me in a way it never did. I feel it in my soul.

It’s as if I’ve gained

a more profound appreciation

of Glory itself.

Have a great week,

Mitch

My favorite piece I ever played…