The occasion of one’s birthday is always a time, however
brief, for reflection and taking stock of where you are. This past weekend saw
the start of my 46th year on this Earth, and I have a lot to be
happy about and celebrate but it’s also the start of a comeback.
There is always room to improve and make better. If you’re
not striving for something better at all times, then things fall into disrepair
and a sad, atrophying stasis. The search, the striving is the goal and the state
of being everyone needs. Merely getting by doesn’t cut it.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t enjoy some time to relax and
be grateful for what you have, but if you’re not happy about something, then
change is a must.
And like everyone else, there are things I am not happy
about. I am very lucky in that I have my health and a lucid mind and can get a
start on turning things around. But things have been in a bit of a rut: I go to
work, I come home and eat and put kids to bed, I answer more work emails and
fall asleep trying to get something done. I wake up early the next day and do
it again.
One glimmer of light in all this is creativity. If I can get
something creative done, I can have some peace of mind, and right now I am
preparing for a show at the end of October.
Having young children and seeing how quick life can move can
be both terrifying and encouraging. It seems like just yesterday I was
welcoming the first of our children into the world; the older of our kids will
be five in January and they are well versed in navigating the parental politics
of our household for their own advantage.
But seeing how fast life moves doesn’t just mean that our
youthful days are left in the dust, it means we can create new things for
ourselves quickly as well. Less than a decade ago I was living alone with not many
prospects for career advancement or a family life. Now I have three children
and a well-established career in public relations. In a few years, I can be in
a different place; the pace of change is fast, which means we can put ourselves
on a better path quickly.
So often we look back on things with regret, and I’ve been
as guilty of that as anyone. We will always, and I can tell you million times
of how true this is: we will always regret the things we don’t do more than the
things we do.
So no matter where you are or how bad things seem or how off
the rails the life you imaged is, don’t worry or spend too much time looking
back on past mistakes. Start doing things to set things right again. You won’t
be sorry. It’s never too late.
Go for it.
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