*You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream* - C.S. Lewis

Do you remember being younger? I do and it doesn't seem like all *that* long ago. Technically I was younger only one second before the one I'm in right now so maybe I should clarify. Do you remember being *much* younger? Again, I certainly do. Who were you. Who was I? All good questions.

I recall some moments in my past fondly: That day I saw my future wife for the first time in September 1987, The day we married in October 2003, taking my life into my own hands the day I left a long-time job and took a leap of faith back in 2001, all the amazing holidays, professional and personal achievements and events that serve as a *living-almanac* of my life. Some were better than others of course, but all of them combined to form the sum and total of my existence on this planet. I'm a 48 year old guy now and I like to think I'm a little wiser through knowledge and experience gained in the fairly full life I've lived so far. Could I go as far as saying I have gained some wisdom? Well, yeah I think so. 

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You see this dude here in the image? That's me. Why am I posing with a random speed-limit street sign? Well, because this photograph was taken the week I turned 40 in 2010 and it seemed appropriate. My wife often jokes about it now relating it to the speed at which I drive however she's only joking, at least I think so. Everyone knows I push it to at least 45! I was actually having some professional photo's shot for a media publication that day and the photographer and I came across this sign and snapped this random shot. Looking back now, eight years ago, at my 40 year old self I can see the changes those eight years have wrought physically and yet the greatest change has been non-physical. I am a different person now. Not better, not worse, just different.

As a 48 year old I find it interesting looking back into my past to the 22 year old me (that's when I knew *everything*!) for instance, or the 28 year old me (that's when I realised I was an idiot at 22 and started to gain some insight into where I was headed in the future) or even the 37 year old me when I was feeling in my prime, just starting to hit the ground running, financially secure, strong of mind and body and with the distinct benefit of some great life-experience and a little wisdom behind me. At none of those points in my life did I feel I was at my peak though. Sure, each of them made me feel, [and think] a certain way but none was better, or worse, than the other and I wasn't better than I am now. Just different.

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It's sometimes difficult for us to look at ourselves and see what/who/how we are as a person I think. I mean we all have this [possibly perfect] ideal of what we are as an individual, a perception of how other's see us and a concept of who we think we *truly are* but is it an accurate indication? Maybe, maybe not. The rise of social media makes it harder again I think considering how easily outward perception can be manipulated into something it may not, in reality, be. Are we really the person we think we are? Is that how other's perceive us? Again, who really knows. Oh, just for comparison here's the 48 year old me...Meh, I think I aged ok...

So considering all of this, I tend to put less emphasis on being what I think people *want to see* and more on *being the person I want to be*. Kind, generous, loving, professional, strong, savvy, humorous, entertaining, polite...Whatever adjective works at any given point, or a combination of many. I do it for me, not others, and I remove the pressure to conform to an ideal, even my own ideal, and simply get on with the task at hand; Designing and creating my ideal life rather than living it by default. In doing so, being the best version of myself that I can be, I have the luxury of being any combination of things that make up my personality with impunity and without fear of failing at some standard society set for me to aspire to. I'm just me. Nothing more or less.

It brings me some sort of comfort to be this way. Some may not understand, may prefer the social-media-inspired charade of projecting a persona upon the world, to conforming to societies' ideal, but for me I'm comfortable in my skin. I can be the socially-awkward guy, the consummate and confident professional, the accomplished shooter, passionate and loving husband, the lazy guy watching Netflix on the couch, the funny guy at the barbecue, the dependable friend...I can just be me, the 48 year old version made up of every other version that ever existed. I think it's enough just to be that.

I'm not perfect, have never been, nor will I ever be; Just like you, and everyone else on the planet. Oh, you got a *hot body, a sports car and a million in the bank*? Nice. You 'ain't perfect though bro! You're just as flawed, incomplete and broken as everyone else on the planet. You're not special. Not in that way anyway. We are all only able to be ourselves. You are you, I am me, he is he and she is she...That's all there is to it. What *can* make a difference though is our attitude and mindset. The choice we make to be the best versions of ourselves, or not. Fortunately we have the luxury as cognitive humans to learn from the past; The ability to move forward but glance in the rear view mirror as well...

Oh, and just for those people who think 48 is getting old...Well, that's your opinion and you're welcome to it. If you are 48 and you think it's old then that's a choice. If you're yet to get there...Well, let's just see how things roll out for you huh?