Very well said. When I was young, all things were possible, and I believed I would live forever.
Then along comes marriage, family, a mortgage, and suddenly you realize that actions now have consequences. You want your kids and spouse safe, warm, and free from hunger; you want to hang onto your job even if that means kissing up to the boss from time to time and/or doing work you never intended to be doing; you realize that you don't run as fast, and your vision and hearing are gradually changing. And, like the previous poster said, you come to realize that a shiny new toy's attractiveness wears off pretty fast, and that your new toy now owns YOU. Go buy a big boat or an airplane, and see how many years it takes for you to dread seeing the thing and paying for its upkeep. Been there, done that.
For me at 59, the essence of happiness is sharing life experiences with friends and loved ones. And yes, I am reluctant to "change" simply because I've done plenty of that over the years and have come to realize that not all "change" is "improvement." The new occupant in the White House will demonstrate that clearly over the next few years.
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