This may take a minute, but hang in there with me. I am going to try to make this one worthwhile.
As you probably know, I moved my family to a Greek island about a month ago.
I have wanted to reach fluency in Greek for some time now. It just was not happening in Tennessee. I could have moved to New York City, or Greece to become fluent in Greek. Greece was cheaper.
We took a major risk. I quit my job, loaded everyone a plane, and am now living in a country where my wife and I cannot read the labels in the grocery store.
Why?
Mid-life crisis? Maybe. I prefer the German word for mid-life crisis. Torschlusspanik means, “the fear of diminishing opportunities as you age”.
Am I in the middle of a life crisis? I don’t think so. Torschlusspanik? Yes. Definitely.
I have been studying Greek for about 5 years now. At a snail’s pace. I intend to create a DVD series for Greek by my 50th birthday. That is, if DVD’s still exist in 7 years.
I looked at the pace of the last 5 years. Would I be able to reach my goal at that pace? No. Time for some Torschlusspanik. I had to do something drastic. And, so… here we are. In Greece. We will be here for another three months. I am guessing that I will learn more Greek in the next three months than I did in the last 5 years.
At some point in your life, it is good to realize that you are running out of time. It is good to re-evaluate. Are you really doing what you want to do? Are you focusing on what is important?
The author of the article I am about to recommend is a “digital potty mouth”. I wish he would not use the words he uses. Nonetheless, this article is worth reading. It may remind you that the door is closing. Perhaps it is time for Torschlusspanik.
http://waitbutwhy.com/2015/12/the-tail-end.html
Have a happy Saturday!
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Dwane Thomas, April 16, 2016
