There are some things that I look back on and get annoyed at past me. Lots of music and sports stuff especially. I look back on best times that I ran when I was 13 or 14 and realize that I can hardly run the same pace now 10 years later. Or maybe pieces that I could play on cello back in the day that I could barely play at 1/10th the speed now.

It’s depressing to know that a past version of yourself was better at something than the current version of you is. It feels like you’ve wasted time. This is sometimes true, though sometimes it’s important to realize that no one can spend time being the best at everything on earth. A quote and blog post I remember continues to ring true: “Everyone is your superior in some way”.

There are going to be things that you were better at when you were younger, but if you play your cards right, the things you care about most will be the things that you continue to thrive in and increase in skill.

In contrast to the above though, I’ve realized that I’m happy not to be where I was a year ago, or 5 years ago, or ten years ago, etc. In general, I’ve always been very content with the age that I am. Most people think that I’m a few years older than I am, and I feel it’s given me a healthy contentment in the present of being where I am. Not looking forward too much to the future and not looking too much on the wishes of a younger me.

When I look back on my job a couple of years ago, working construction, that was one of the best years of my life. I was so content while I was working there and the life that I was living outside of work. I was genuinely completely happy and was so glad to be where I was. To this day, that was one of my favorite years and favorite jobs. But I can’t express how glad I am not to be there anymore. I feel I’ve learned so much in the last two years, and to go back to that time would strip those learnings away from me.

That’s how I look at many of the seasons of my life. Perfect for the time. God placed me there for a reason, and I was content and happy in them, but it would be very difficult to go back and be content in them.

I also realize though that even in the periods of time that I was unhappy, those flew by. Even if they didn’t feel like they flew by when I was in them, they really did.

I’m very thankful for a God who places me exactly where he wants me when he wants me there.