It’s hard to believe that 39 years ago I was born to my mom (who was all of 18 at the time I was born). Life was never easy and I’m sure, if she was alive today, she wouldn’t necessarily be thrilled with my path today. I’m sure somewhere under her hard exterior she’d still love me as I am. At least that’s what I hope. In some ways, birthdays have been bittersweet. To be remembered, even if only for one day, is important. It’s not the gifts (material things do wear down and cigars can be smoked) but rather the people that matter the most when celebrating a birthday. Most people look at it as their special day as to when they entered the world. I look at it as the day that I entered the world and started making connections and creating connections with others.
“The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.” — Lucille Ball
This is somewhat of a milestone year for many. They often see it as having lived 40-50% of their life at this point. I view it as the start of truly living live, especially with what I’ve done in the last 3 years alone, let alone all of the stuff I’ve done over the last 39. Getting “old” is definitely a state of mind. Yes, our bodies age. Things are affected more by gravity; we feel those bruises more; we become more attached to the Wheel of Fortune. But, I have found myself to be more youthful now than I did when I was 8 or 21 (the last two years I had birthday parties). When I was 8 I had adult responsibities. When I was 21, I was carefree but soon got hit with the full force of life the following year.
Over the years I’ve learned a lot:
- how to ride a bike
- how to use a remote
- how to use a Mac
- how to use a PC (Windows/Linux)
- how to read
- how to laugh
- how to be laughed at
- how to cry at a sad movie
- how to laugh at dark humor
- how to imagine worlds beyond our little microcosm
- how to save the planet (composting, recycling, reusing, reducing)
- how to drive a car through the back of a garage
- how to toast marshmallows
- how to enjoy the awe of the Northern Lights on the St. Lawrence
- how to enjoy the smell of a pipe
- how to enjoy silence and the crackle of a bonfire
- how to stop a puck
- how to fall off a bike
- how to fall in love
- how to fall out of love
- how to make Mac’n'Cheese
- how to live off of Mac’n'Cheese for a year
- how to do a solo bicycle tour
- how to get lost on a bike while doing a tour
- how to make friends
- how to lose friends
- how to not give a fuck anymore
- how to care for everyone
- how to lose faith
- how to believe in spirituality and more than me
- how to skate on ice
- how to hit a board because I forgot to stop on ice
- how to dance
- how to embarrass myself dancing
- how to drink
- how to drink so bad that I forgot what happened (only once!)
- how to hate where I work
- how to love what I do
- how to try to stay safe and not rock the boat
- how to take a risk because the boat needs rocking
But I think the thing I’ve learned that matters the most is to be myself. That’s what makes this year and the years to come so important. I regret very little in life since all those wonderful mistakes, screw ups, etc., have brought me to the here and now. And that is a wonderful thing, no?
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– Benjamin Disraeli
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Happy Birthday, my friend!
Hope this year brings you all the good things someone like you deserves.
Remember that cigar you gave me when you were up here in December? I finally smoked it. Awesome – slightly spicy, good burn. Very nice.
The time does fly, doesn’t it? Are you having a big party when you turn 40? ‘coz I’d be all over that!
Hey Wryly,
Thanks for the b-day wishes. And glad you enjoyed the cigar.
They do taste better when aged nicely (kinda like wine).
Yes, K and I discussed it: 40 will be a big one here (somewhere) in NYC or something. We’ll probably look into planning this summer but it’d be nice to have a b-day celebration again with a bunch of people. Maybe we should just hit Toronto and celebrate it there