First-ever Guest Post: The Good Now Days by David Carpenter

My sixteen-year-old brother, David, wrote this piece yesterday after watching the finale of the TV show The Office. I enjoyed reading his perspective and hope that you will as well.

The Good Now Days

by David Carpenter 

Over the last few months I've been watching The Office from pilot to finale, and as the one of the most beloved sitcoms in history came to its beautifully climatic and emotional end, Andy made the statement, "I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them." This quote made me think. At 16 years of age many people think of these, the days I live now, as those ever elusive "Good Ole Days". Yet, if you were to ask those my age of when those days transpired they would tell you of much earlier days in elementary and middle school. 

Some would tell you the early days of their marriage before the stresses of life interfered with the wonderment of true love. Ask others however and talk of their children's early, middle, and yes, even teenage years, and wishes of more time spent together as a family. A person might think back to those “good old days” before their retirement, a certain desk mate or boss might bring a tear to their eye... but, who am I kidding?  

Ultimately we miss those days gone by because we fail to realize the beauty of the time in which we live now. I daily spend time talking to friends where often our conversation goes to how we can't wait to get out, go to college, become independent. Yet we spend so much time thinking of our destination that we completely miss the journey. Young married couples are so caught up in careers and futures that the beauty of pure love is lost. Parents are often to busy for games of catch, a push on the swing set, or a quick trip to get a burger, yet those are the moments that you will remember years later. We often rush to our places of work, struggle through the day and hurry back home, never taking a look around the room to see those around you and what one day you might even miss. 

As you go into 2014 consider this... THESE ARE THE GOOD OLD DAYS!! You're living in them now. In 2014 millions of people will be married, even more become engaged. Millions of babies will be born, and every one who is here in a year will have turned a year older. Whether you are 6, 16, or 65, age doesn't matter.  Appreciate what and whom you have because you never know when you'll be wishing you could have them back. Thank you Dunder-Mifflin Scranton, you've made me realize that these are the days of my life, and thank you Andy Bernard, because I Will Remember You too!