The old man thought long and hard before attempting to blow out a century's worth of candles. Finally a vision of words flashed through his mind's eye:
Life is not what you see, but what you've projected. It's not what you've felt, but what you've decided, not what you've experienced, but how you've remembered it. It's not what you've forged, but what you've allowed. And it's not who's appeared, but who you've summoned.
And this should serve you well, until you find, what you already have.