A couple of days ago, I ran into an old friend from high school. He was a few years older than me, but we have known each other for a while. We started with the small talk ‘how are yous’ and the ‘what have you been up tos’. He was with his cousin, so I spoke to her, too. I asked how she was doing. Rolling her eyes, she said that she was in high school now, but that she couldn’t wait to get out.
At that moment, the old friend said something that I’ve thought about for a few days now.
He said, “Oh, don’t say that. You’re going to miss high school. Those times are the best years of your life.”
As he kept talking about all the trouble and fun he had in high school, I couldn’t pay attention. My mind was stuck on that phrase, the best years of your life.
We engaged in a little more small talk and then said our goodbyes and parted ways.
Later that night as I was laying in bed, I started thinking about that conversation again. The best years of your life. High school? The very best years? It doesn’t get any better than high school?
Let me stop here and say that I had an unbelievable high school experience. I went to a small high school with few students. It was the kind of place where everybody knew everybody. And I loved it. I had terrific teachers, coaches, and friends. Looking back, I can’t find anything negative to say about my time in school. I had an awesome experience and cherish all of the friends and memories that I made there. In fact, my very best friends from high school are still my very best friends today. I wouldn’t trade those days for anything.
But.
Those days are nowhere near the best years of my life. As I laid in bed thinking about what that old friend had said, I imagined my high school self laying in my high school bed 10 years ago. I was probably thinking about what I would wear to school tomorrow, or what time I would get out of practice, or how in the world I was going to pass Ms. Holland’s math test when I had no clue how to even use my TI-83 calculator. The thought of those carefree days does sound appealing. No bills, no 9-5 job, no worries.
But 10 years ago, there was no Ben. No PB. No sound of little feet pitter pattering on these old floors. No husband to snuggle up with every night. No little boy to rock to sleep. No lazy Friday nights at home with my best friend. No Saturday morning pancakes with my boys.
And while those old days were fun and unique, and I’ll cherish them forever, they could never fulfill my heart the way these days do. As I watch my favorite boys chasing each other around the house, I wonder how I could have ever been without them. I have been so blessed.
High school is meant to be enjoyed. It’s fun. It’s challenging. It’s exciting. You feel like you’re on top of the world. And to some extent, you are. But I have to agree with Brad Paisley on this one, those are nowhere near the best days of your life.
Have a blessed Friday 🙂
