The Reckless Days of Youth, Tempered by Time

“Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.”

Looking back on my younger years, I realize my recklessness wasn’t about wild partying—it was about taking risks in work, business, and life itself. I trusted my energy, curiosity, and sheer determination to get me through. Most of the time, it worked. Sometimes, it almost didn’t.

I remember standing in my workshop, the table saw spinning, when I nicked the tip of my ring finger. A moment’s lapse, a split-second miscalculation, and I learned the hard way to respect power tools. There were times I climbed onto a roof without thinking twice, balancing precariously while the wind teased me, completely ignoring that one misstep could end badly. I lifted heavy objects without thinking about my back, ran power tools without ear protection, and indulged far too often in sugary snacks and ice cream. Each misstep was a small rebellion of my youthful confidence—and each left a lesson etched into me.

Back then, consequences felt distant. When you’re young, the future stretches endlessly—a 40-year horizon feels like forever. Mistakes are abstract. You survive them, shrug them off, and move on. Boldness feels like freedom, and the stakes seem far away.

Now, decades later, time has a different weight. At 69, I look ahead to the age my father was when he passed—and it’s startling how short that feels. Looking back 17 years, it seems like yesterday. That shrinking horizon makes each decision sharper, each risk measured. The audacity of youth must now be guided by experience, patience, and respect for the limits of the body and life itself.

Take my career, for example. I leapt into challenges that others avoided, trusting instinct and hard work. Those leaps taught me resilience, strategy, and preparation that paid off over the decades. When I left a high-paying corporate job to open my antique store, it was risky—but with experience on my side, I could navigate those risks intelligently.

When I engage with the youth in my family, I often try to warn them about the decisions they are making or how they treat their health. Too often, though, it seems they are destined to make the same mistakes I made. And maybe that’s part of life—learning through experience, even if it comes with a few scars along the way.

Life teaches through what we almost—or actually—break—ourselves, our dreams, our health. The reckless actions of youth give courage and insight, but age shows us how to channel that energy wisely. I still take risks, but they’re intentional. I plan. I protect my health. I think ahead. And I value every lesson my past has handed me.

I wouldn’t trade my bold younger self. But I’m grateful for the tempered, thoughtful self I’ve become. Together, the fire of youth and the wisdom of age make a life both adventurous and measured—a life long enough to savor, but short enough to make every year count.

“Have you ever experienced something like this, or what’s your take on it? As I continue exploring these ideas and sharing family stories, I’d love for you to join me—subscribe to stay connected and catch the next story.”