I spent time with my grandfather in Mexico recently. It was nearly a decade since I last saw him, as he lives in another country. But I recently started visiting him more often, about once or twice a year.
He lives in a small town in Durango, Mexico with a population less than 250 people. But the small town is 30 minutes away from the state capital.
One time, we took a taxi to the city and spent the day walking and talking. We both like asking questions, so there was never a sense of solitude during our outing.
At one point, he asked a question that all grandparents eventually ask:
“Are you getting married and having kids?”
I told him not now, and not in the next few years, that I’m not ready to settle down.
But as soon as those words came out of my mouth, a new thought occurred to me: when will I ever be ready?
Not once have I ever thought I was ready to do anything. Not when joining a sports team, taking an exam, or even graduating from college. Chapters of my life close expectedly, but new chapters start unexpectedly, and I’m never ready for them.
It’s likely that I won’t be ready for marriage, let alone raising a kid. It’s also likely that I won’t be ready for upcoming projects, goals, or dreams.
I’ll accept this fact and cross those bridges when I get there. There’s no use fretting about things that can but hadn’t.
This thought briefly passed as we continued our conversation on other things.
Here’s my inspiration for the day.