It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

That opening sentence of A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens might also apply to those innocent, naive days of our youth.
“Graduation marks the end of our road, and now that opportunities branch on either side of us we will think back one day and will find that we truly have never forgotten what has been the most carefree days of our lives.” This sentence penned by some budding author for my high school yearbook reflects the mythology of the carefree life of a young student.
I, for one, beg to differ. Having been there and five decades later am where I am today, find these days the most carefree, satisfying I have ever experienced. It is not totally a matter of age and experience. While these factor into the equation for satisfaction, there is another essential ingredient that makes the difference.
That ingredient is the spiritual component of life that can be discovered at any age, but usually doesn’t become apparent to most people until later in life, or as the result of some traumatic experience. The recognition comes as a gift and its acceptance is a choice.
Don’t get me wrong. Life in this world will never be utopian. But understanding this and recognizing that a future lies beyond this life can be quite satisfying.