I walk into the dentist’s office. It’s packed. They tell me they’re running 20 minutes behind.
The worst.
Then this older guy walks in—big energy, booming voice—and announces to the front desk:
“Tomorrow’s my 90th birthday!”
He sits down next to me and says, “You know what it feels like to be 90?”
“I don’t,” I say.
“Me neither!” he laughs. “I don’t turn 90 ‘til tomorrow! And tomorrow ain’t here yet. All we got is today.”
He looked great. Easily could have been in his mid-70s. Still sharp. Still smiling.
Then he asks me, “You know what I think about?”
“What’s that?” I ask.
“Flying,” he says. “Woke up thinking about flying. Thought about it driving here. I took flying lessons for a decade, on and off. Loved being up there. I can’t fly anymore… but whatever you love to do, do more of it. Because one day you won’t be able to. You’ll be 89, turning 90, thinking about the flying lessons you took in your 50s.”
Then they called him in. Moved him ahead of the line as a “birthday present.”
He winked at me and walked off.
And I’ve been thinking about what he said ever since.
- All we have is today.
- Whatever you love to do, do more of it—because one day, you won’t be able to.
Damn. Life advice can hit you hard… even in a dentist’s waiting room.
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Jon Finkel
Editor-in-Chief, Midlife Male
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