On October 10th, 2006, at the age of 36, I suffered a stroke. Thankfully, it wasn't a major stroke and I was able to make a full recovery!
In the weeks that followed, I can't count how many times I heard the phrase, "But you're too young to have a stroke!" My answer to this was always the same: "Really? What age is the right age to have a stroke?"
I don't think that someone would say to an 75 year-old: "What?? You haven't had a stroke yet? You're 75 already, you'd better hurry up and have one!"
Time is such a funny illusion, isn't it? You just can't count on time to abide by your plans. Kids get cancer. People are always dying "before their time". And 36 year-olds have strokes. I have an aunt who is 83 and has more verve and energy than some 65 year olds. Unless you are an actuary, there is no use getting caught up in the numbers game of time and ages.
And then there is the other side of the coin. My four year-old son recently asked me how old I am. When I asked him to guess, he said 20. When I told him that I'm 36 he just said "W-O-W!" Now he thinks that 36 is the largest number possible. We recently went to a major league baseball game and when we walked into the stadium he looked at the crowd and said, "Wow! There must be 36 people here!"
I'm still not sure how I feel about that one!
Like a true illusion, time really depends on your perspective. To a four year-old, 36 is an impossible age to imagine. While to someone in their 50's or 60's, 36 is too young to have a stroke. And then there is the most dangerous of all illusions about time - the idea that you will be given "enough time".
That's why I let my focus on the present moment free me from the illusion of time. Life's more fun that way!
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