A friend recently asked me:
“What do you love now that you hated when you were younger?”
My first answers came quickly: beer, anchovies, and olives.
As a child, I couldn’t understand why anyone would willingly consume something so bitter, salty, or strong. Yet today I enjoy all three. Somewhere along the way, my tastes changed.
The more I thought about the question, the more I realised it wasn’t really about food or drink. It was about life.
Life’s Acquired Tastes
Many of life’s best things are acquired tastes.
Not just beer and olives, but solitude, routine, patience, quiet mornings, and long walks.
When I was younger, I was drawn to excitement and activity. I assumed a good life was a busy life. The idea of spending time alone or finding satisfaction in ordinary routines seemed dull and uninspiring.
Now I see things differently.
Learning to Love Solitude
One of the biggest surprises has been learning to appreciate solitude. As a lifelong single man, there have been times when being alone felt difficult. But over the years, I’ve discovered that solitude and loneliness are not the same thing.
Solitude can be a gift.
It creates space to think, pray, reflect, write, and simply slow down. Some of my best ideas have arrived during a quiet walk. Some of my deepest moments of gratitude have come when there was no noise competing for my attention.
Finding Joy in the Ordinary
I’ve also learned to appreciate the ordinary rhythms of life. A morning coffee. A walk around the neighbourhood. Preparing a meal. Reading before bed.
None of these moments are particularly remarkable on their own, yet together they form a life that feels rich and meaningful.
Perhaps that’s one of the gifts of growing older. We begin to appreciate things our younger selves overlooked.
Wisdom is an acquired taste.
Contentment is an acquired taste.
Solitude is an acquired taste.
What Have You Learned to Appreciate?
Looking back, the question is no longer, “What do you love now that you hated when you were younger?”
The better question might be:
“What have you learned to appreciate that your younger self couldn’t yet understand?”
For me, the list starts with beer, anchovies, and olives.
But it ends with gratitude for the quiet, ordinary moments that make up a good life.
Sometimes the best things in life are acquired tastes.