Today is my birthday, and it feels good.
I went to work, had a little mini party, had a 32 oz bubble tea (do not recommend) had lots of laughs with colleagues, got a very nice present from parents and Alex, and went to my dance class. Lots of plans to see people this week, lots of nice messages and thoughtfulness.
Life has changed. People have changed. I really feel like this year is a new chapter, especially the past few months. People are reconsidering what's important, children are growing up. I had a mental break when one of my youngest nephews let me know he passed his full drivers test and is now driving by himself.
But it's not bad...it's just life. Life changes even when we don't want it to. Reality doesn't conform to our dreams. It's the other way around. Dreams come to reality and become something different than what we expect.
Let me tell you a story. In university, I was secretary for a student council. I took pretty good notes, but used a lot of shorthand for words. I went back a couple years ago, and talked to the chaplain who helped run the council. He said, "You know, your legacy is that we all use one or two of the shorthand words you used to use in all of our minutes for our meetings!"
Famous and obscure, that's me.
The things we imagine for ourselves...they rarely come true in a way we expect. Life is very much a monkey's paw. Make a wish, get a surprise in how reality unfolds.
This decade, it's a new chapter. I don't know what it will be. When I started my career, I saw people as rising stars above me. Those people are now close to retiring. Life is a wheel, and we are on it long enough to see the lights as it goes around. Or at least I have been. I'm still on the ride, going for another round.
It's been a good yr. Looking fwd to the next 1.
