As a significant (apparently) birthday approaches I wanted to reflect on the past 50 years and impart some wisdom.

As I thought about what I wanted to say, it occurred to me that music has played a large part in my life. 

There has been loads of times where the words of Jon Bon Jovi have been appropriate.

Mother, father
There’s things I’ve done I can’t erase
Every night we fall from grace
It’s hard with the world in your faith
Trying to hold on, trying to hold on

I’ve made mistakes – more than a few. I know that mum and dad worried about me, at least for a few years. I wish I could apologise again. Wisdom number 1:  Don’t leave it unsaid. Whatever it is, get it off your chest and say it. You never know when it will be too late.

Wisdom number 2, this time from Mike Peters and Eddie MacDonald of the Alarm.  

I remember this much

There is nothing 

You shouldn’t speak of 

If you got something to say

And there is no one 

To be scared of 

Just get them out of the way

I have been afraid of what others think and say far too often in the past 50 years.  It has meant that I’ve missed out on things that would have been fun, exciting and uplifting. All because I was afraid to speak out and make changes.  There is only one that you need to impress. And they don’t have skin and bones. Say what you think, with the caveat that my mum used to use – “is it true, is it kind, is it necessary.” Run anything through that filter and you can’t go far wrong.

Billy Currington has wisdom number 3.

God is great

Beer is good and 

People are crazy

Pretty self-explanatory this one really. God has been a huge, ever-present part of life. I have walked away and back again way too many times to count, but (to quote another song, this time by Petra),

You say you’ve walked ten thousand steps away

But did you know that it’s only one step back.

He doesn’t change, He doesn’t move, He is always right where we left Him ,ready to welcome us back with open arms.

Beer – well, I’ve had my fair share of that over the years. There have been times when I’ve had too much for my own good (see wisdom number 1 above), but we have a much better relationship now. I’ve got to the age where I don’t like the squiffy feeling the morning after the night before, so yes, beer is good, just don’t have too much of it.

I only have to remember that I am ‘people’ to realise that people are crazy. And so is everyone else. It helps make our interactions with each other make a lot more sense (if sense can be made with crazy people)

All said and done, 50 finds me grateful to be alive. I’ve nearly died at least once, and stepped back from wandering blindly into killing myself through dietary and other life choices. Stepped back, and started running in the other direction.

Wisdom number 4 doesn’t come from a song, but from experience. Your brain will tell you that you can’t. Don’t listen to it. You can do more than you think. A year ago I couldn’t run for a bus. Now I can run 10K in an hour.

All it takes is a decision to never quit. To keep going. Ask for help if you need to, but know that you can always do more than you think you can. 

It will take time, but do it now while you still have it.

Am I happy with the way things are? Yes. 

Not so much wisdom number 5, as a good way to sum it up – again from JBJ.

I like the bed I’m sleeping in

Just like me its broken in

It’s not old, just older

Like a favourite pair of torn blue jeans

This skin I’m in is alright with me

It’s not old, just older

So, fifty years down. What’s next I hear you say?

This seems like a good way to sum it up I think.

Woah, we’re half way there
Woah, livin’ on a prayer
Take my hand, we’ll make it I swear

Here’s to the next 50.