The work never stops

Living life successfully is a learned experience. It doesn't come automatically because so much of what we are exposed to is unnecessary drivel except we do not know it at the time. 

We eventually learn to recognize what feeds into our essence and well-being and what detracts from it but often through harsh lessons which aren't wasted if we have emerged from them with deeper insight. 

Some people say they would like to go back to some part of their life and relive it with greater appreciation that they didn't possess at the time. I don't share that yearning but instead look back at my experiences as a road I needed to follow to get here which isn't perfection.

My father used to say that life begins at 40 and he was correct. By then you have developed some skills and some basic defenses which get you through the rest. 

The work never stopping until our time here is done.