Soap Box

2015

Well, for somebody born in 1936, the very numerals themselves sound like the title to some B-grade black and white science fiction movie, some cheesy tale about how in 2015 the two- headed minotaurs from Uranus came to earth and ate everybody's brain and turned the human race into mindless robots.

After all, 1984 bore such dire predictions of the future, that a lot of people actually thought Orwell's best seller was a harbinger of things to come and words like Orwellian and Big Brother have become a part of social lexicon.

Well, I did live through 1984 and with the Lord's help will live through 2015, but for somebody who grew up saying 19 so-and-so for some 64 years, just the advent of the 21st Century and having to get used to saying two thousand, or 20 so-and-so was strange enough, then we added single digits and now double digits, and in my 79th year of life on this Planet Earth, it's hard to believe we're already halfway through the teens.

Oh well.

Actually, I view the arrival of 2015 with much anticipation with plans for a new album, an extensive tour, another year as a member of the Grand Ole Opry and the revival of the Volunteer Jam, with a roster of talent that may well be the most exciting one we've ever had.

I can't do anything to stop the years from going by but I can keep myself involved in doing things that I love to do and taking advantage of opportunities that present themselves and always have a reason for getting up in the morning.

I think that mandatory retirement ages are nonproductive and unwise and that many a good man has been forced into retirement just because of a birthday and taken with him decades of experience, know how, relationships and savvy.

Conversely, I have absolutely no problem with people who want to retire when they reach the age, they have earned the right to spend their golden years in whatever fashion they choose and I also realize that some jobs have physical requirements that older people can no longer meet.

But, as for me and people like me, who's job does not require a lot of heavy lifting, if you are so inclined, and if health and circumstances allow, why shouldn't we continue doing something we have devoted our lives to learning how to do?

If I were to give advice to any young person who is looking for fulfillment in their chosen vocation I would say very simply, choose a profession you can devote your attention, your energy and a "go the extra mile" attitude to.

And even though they have the best of intentions, not what your parents want you to do, not a profession you don't really want but would go into just because of the security, not a job that is beneath your talent and intelligence, but a bona fide challenge that you're chomping at the bit to get to every day.

Will you have struggles?

I guarantee it.

Will you have to burn the midnight oil and feel awfully lonely at times?

Absolutely.

But if you choose wisely, work diligently and stay the course you will spend your life truly enjoying your work, then the word �retirement� will disappear from your vocabulary.

So bring on 2015, let me at it, I'm off on another adventure, batten down the hatches, tighten the cinch and let's rock.

From all of us here at the CDB and Twin Pines Ranch we wish you the very best New Year you've ever had and the mercies and blessings of God.

What do you think?

Pray for our troops and the peace of Jerusalem

God Bless America

Charlie Daniels