Tactile

---

I met a friend last night for an artisanal cocktail at The Eddy, the best small bar in Providence. As most conversations go between two baby boomer males, topics discussed ranged from what we’re currently doing, family, politics (lots to talk about in this election), sex (have jokingly), and the general direction of our great Nation. As the second Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned was placed in front of me by the tatted millennial, I served up the ultimate question, are you happy? So, the real conversation followed.

It’s funny how we shy away from directly answering this question. To answer in the negative seems insulting to our loved ones or just plain spoiled when we consider how truly lucky we are. But, the hesitation and perplexed look shows our hand. We would be shitty gamblers. My friend presents his answer with sort of a grimace declaring, I’ve been happier. To my surprise, my friend built houses in his younger days. As he explained, “listening to my clients and designing and building a house that met their vision was truly rewarding.” This was the period of greatest happiness for my friend.

As we explore our next stage in life, being a cog in a machine where the fruits of our labor are hard to define haunts us. For many of us, that’s how we toiled for the past three plus decades. We seek something different. I suggest that what many of us have missed is the feeling of accomplishment and enrichment that we get from focusing on the tactile. Being able to see and touch the fruits of our labor and to see the smiles and excitement of our customers are hard to beat. We don’t need to solve the problems of our world, but to produce something of quality that adds to the life of others may be exactly what we need to make the next stage of our lives the happiest yet; just a thought.

#Tactile