The man on the TV said, “I’ve worked hard to get where I am today. I’ve paid my dues. I have a nice family, a beautiful wife, a good job. I just want to coast now. I’ve earned my spot. Now it’s time to keep things steady.”
He couldn’t have been older than 32 years old.
Maybe my problem is that I don’t have a vision for what it’s like to “make it.” I guess it’s probably a pretty good feeling to get there, to feel like you’ve accomplished what you set out to do for your life. I’m thinking that the man on the TV had every reason to feel completely satisfied and content.
The only problem is that his wife didn’t feel the same way. She didn’t marry this complacent guy. She didn’t marry a guy who just wanted to coast through life. She married a guy that was interested in her as a person. She married a guy who had ideas and dreams. She married a guy who wanted to build a life with her. This new guy…she isn’t digging his disinterested, coasting self.
I have a hard time believing that the thought of coasting for 50 or 60 years is really appealing to anyone. No, I think that accomplishing a monumental life goal is terrifying. Notice I said “accomplishing,” as in “I have now accomplished,” or, “I am accomplishing as we speak.” I didn’t say “the path to accomplishing” or “undertaking our life’s work” is terrifying. I think that the act of finishing something that you started is terrifying because it begs the question, “What next?”
Complacency is a symptom of fear. Coasting is a symptom of fear. Even contentment is mostly a symptom of fear. When we are afraid, we freeze; we’re talking roverbial “deer in the headlights” action. We do this because moving is risky. Getting past the current accomplishment entails wide open territory, a new beginning to a new tale, the start of a new chapter. And the hardest part of starting all over again is facing the fear of not making it to the destination this time around. So, the only viable option is to just stand still.
Or coast.
The man on the TV wants to coast. His wife doesn’t. Neither do I.
Illuminate Possibilities 
Maybe this young dude is somewhat experiencing what so many are these days; he’s tired. Sometimes we find ourselves at the crossroad of completing one thing and time to begin another and seem to only be able to focus on our drained energy. If we don’t take the time to recharge, then we see the next road as simply more energy to be expended; energy we do not have at that juncture.Maybe that is his situation. Or he’s just an immature little jerk. Or maybe I’m just tired and jealous!