In our younger days, we used to find certain things interesting because they used to appear difficult and challenging. The incentive was that success in doing them would give us distinction, recognition, fame. Probably, math, arts, music, sports and many such things fell in this category. In some cases, we would succeed in earning that distinction. In certain, we would fail and then the activity would lose its attraction. But in certain rare cases, the thing would not lose its effect on us in spite of repeated failures to excel in it.
With growing age, the number of this last category is increasing: Yoga, cycling, domestic involvement, kindliness, minimalism, beautiful coversations ... these are not going to bring me trophies or fame. Nor do I stand out of the crowd in these because there are many who do them better than me.
And yet, I feel increasingly attached to these little insignificant things. I find them beautiful in their own right, not because they offer any possibility of distinction to me.
This change is among several other positive changes I feel coming over me with passing time. And I feel happy about them.
