Unlike many, I welcome turning 40 this year. For me, this is something to really celebrate. I see it as a privilege & to some degree a luxury. So many aren’t so lucky… I’ve been very fortunate in my 40 years on this planet.
As a kid, I traveled the US pretty extensively. I got to see a lot of things as a kid that many others don’t get the chance to see. As an adult, I’ve been to Europe 8 times including four to my beloved Ireland, three time to France, once to Rome & the Amalfi coast of Italy.
I’ve been so fortunate to take these trips. So many people never leave their home towns, villages or what have you.
As an adult, I’ve had the chance to do some cool work. As a ‘kid,’ I worked for two of most storied names in news at The Christian Science Monitor (when they had a radio network similar to NPR) & CBS News. I was hand-picked to work on a special assignment for Dan Rather called ‘The American Dream’ that focused on stories about how the indomitable American spirit transcended people’s lives – whether they chose to stay in the US or not.
For over 2 years, I worked in baseball doing statistical analysis for teams, their players & those players’ agents. Yes, “Moneyball.” But this was before Moneyball. This time makes up some of my favorite memories as an adult.
But, even with all of these amazing memories, I am mostly stoked to be 40 because I see it as a line of demarcation; the line of where I’ll really begin to live and do more & more amazing things. It’s my challenge to myself and to any of you to take it up.
I am also keenly aware that this is the halfway mark – and I’m going to make the absolute most of the next 40 & more years.
So, here’s a laundry list of things I’m committing to do in the next half of my life:
- Start reading more. – I don’t read enough & never have. My smarts – if I have any – have come from deduction and not addition. I need to add more intelligence through reading.
- Publicly present my own writing – As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that my creative writing, and all poetry, needs to be read aloud. I’ve stunted that part of my growth due to artificial fears in my own abilities.
- French – I used to be mostly fluent in French. I lost a lot of it over time from lack of practice and more. I will get it back. Miss my mother tongue.
- Travel more – I’ve every intention of seeing as much of the world as I’m able to.
- Reconnect with music – For me, music is the secret to humanity. I love well-produced film & TV, but music is the be all, end all for me. This reconnection may include taking my work there, but it may also include working with musicians to bring my words to life.
- While we’re on music… – I will pick back up with the drums. I am a self-taught drummer and may even take a lesson or two. I suspect that could be my happy place. I do rather enjoy making noise.
More than anything, I’m happy to have an amazing woman with whom to grow old. My wife & I have been together as long as I can remember. We’ve had amazing times and we’ve had our share of issues, but I’d rather have issues with her than anyone in the world. Thank you for being in my life…
I wish you & yours nothing but love in this world. It’s what you deserve… Live this life to the fullest. It’s the only one we get…