Twenty-nine years ago today, I came squalling into the world, pissed-off that my head looked like this:
Mom was similarly disillusioned that my head was the size of this:
So, yeah…birthday. Pretty-much feels like any other day…I got one of these as a present:
As a result, my wife now gets to wake-up every morning at 5:20 on the dot to the sound of whirring blades, grinding coffee beans, and dripping hot water. I think of it as the gift that keeps on giving ;-)
Last year nearly killed me: Maria’s birth, shipping my last version of MarkVision, losing Joey for the summer, deciding to change jobs, changing jobs, getting real with all my “stuff”, miscarriage, Maria’s burn, and now Mom’s surgery–I can’t believe all that was my 28th year.
The big thing I learned was I couldn’t run and hide anymore. Everything around me had changed, but inside I hadn’t. I was still egocentric, and did all these “selfless” things not because I wanted to, but because it was “the right thing to do”. That bred resentment, resulting in anger. I was going down a pretty dark road, especially in August->September. My world felt like it was collapsing.
So, I stand here today, 29 years old, on a ledge, a haven. I’ve stopped sliding, but I’ve yet to start the climb up the mountain. I strive for the attitude and priorities to prevail: I have a great group of people to keep me honest, and a family that I love very much. I approach tasks now not as a burden, but as a way to serve my family–a way to show love.
Life isn’t easy, but I find one’s attitude towards it can make it easier.
God bless you all, and keep you. May His peace lighten your heart, and His truth light your way, always.