Now that we're friends, let's take a little stock here. I know you. Or folks like you. You're busy!! You've been running your life race with commitment. Your head down, steadily plowing forward, constantly moving towards that ever elusive, but ever present THING that we all want.
Let's face it. You've been at this race for awhile now. It really kicked into high gear when you started out on your own, or were trying to "grow up" around the age of 17 or 18. And that was a long, LONG time ago.
For some people, it takes them well beyond this time. Heck, they're still living with their mother and drooling on the basement pillows well into their thirties, but, I digress.
Slackers aside, most of us try to do the best we can from the moment we wake up into our lives and accept that the only person who can make our life happen is us. Me. You. Numero Uno!
Over the years, we do for others every day with our heads down, fighting the fight for the greater good. Our intentions drive us. Intending to make a dollar. Intending to do as little harm as possible. Intending to help. Some folks just intending to keep their heads above water, intending to fend off the wolves.
The basic motivation, whether squeaking by, or living with a bit more luxury, is simply survival.
With all the advancements in this computer driven, technologically advanced world of ours, the basic driving force for every single human and every single animal is the same.
Time marches on (all over our face) as we are all just living. Most giving very little thought to where it is we are right now in the moment. Who has the time to acknowledge time?! We have been too busy raising kids, getting promotions, walking the dog, dealing with the PTA, mowing the lawn...
Then one day,
(cue JAWS theme music in your head)
Something is different.
You find yourself looking at friends, and commenting on how old THEY look. Wait a minute, you went to High School with them. And of course you notice how much better you look than them! Maybe you just attended your twentieth high school reunion? Or maybe it was your thirtieth, or even fortieth?
Then you look to your parents, if you're lucky enough to still have them. How much older they are than the last time you really payed attention. They're what? They're looking at assisted living situations?
Well, that just can't be.
You take a good look at your kids, if you have them, and you realize how grown up they are. They're telling you to expect a card on Grandparents Day this year.
Grandparent? You?
Well, if all of this is true, that your friends are older, your parents are older, your kids are older, you're going to be a grandparent? Clearly, something is different about you.
BAM.
It hits you like a ton of bricks.
You're not dense. You've always known that two plus two equals four. Time passes.Things change...
You can do it. Admit it. Take a sip of water. Breathe in and say it with me:
I'M MIDDLE AGED!
(now watch Season 1, Episode 1 of Middle (ST)age. You'll feel better about yourself!
Marina Lippon, Actress:
Middle (ST)age is written by Stacia Fernandez and Jacob Pinion and can be seen in it's entirety on Stage17.tv. Follow Stacia at @Fernandezstacia -- follow her character Marina Lippon at @MarinaLippon or follow her page MIDDLESTAGE on Facebook. ust don't follow her around the grocery store. It makes her nervous.