Still a little over a year away, but it’s starting to hit me, I’m heading towards the big 4-0. There are meme’s about getting goals, unusual facts about oneself and so on. I guess in usual fashion I’m taking a different spin and concatenating those concepts into one post. I figure, hey a little narcissistic, self-reflective, navel gazing is good for the soul every once in a while. Life is a trip, quite literally. We start with eyes filled with wonder and end wondering where the time went. Since I’m hitting the half-way mark, I’m taking a look at what has been and what might be.
What Has Been
At sixteen I was playing the guitar, seventeen I dropped into college, took a four year hiatus to live in California with organic farmers, work with special needs children, served in a church, learned a bit of Spanish, served in giving humanitarian aid to people in Nicaragua and headed back to Texas to learn professional landscaping. I met my soon to be beautiful wife, worked as a chef in a gourmet kitchen and finished my degree in history from the University of Texas a week before my first daughter was born. Later with two kiddos in tow we headed off to Turkey learning the language and giving a go at a web design office. Returned to Texas, learned a few things, headed to Austin and entered life in higher-ed as a webmaster. Gained experience, lost my dad to cancer, gained a third daughter, gained a few pounds, lost some hair…gains and loses seems to be a theme. Worked as a techie, director, system admin, freelance designer and flash dude. I Bought a house in the country that now is the burbs, took a job at a great company a couple miles away and realized I don’t like travelling unless it involves a passport or the open road across America. Now I’m helping to start a church, raise our kids, gardening, blogging, still playing the guitar and trying to take life one day at a time. As a Techie looking at 40, how did I get here already and what could be next…
What Might Be
Maybe I’ll work a few years, get the right idea, start a business and become very wealthy by 45. By 50 money concerns will be minimal as we’ll invest well, pay off our little abode and sock some money away for the kiddos college, weddings, first car… The right property will come along, perhaps a vineyard where we’ll produce the best darn wine in the Texas hill country, raise olives, fruit, animals and host folks who travel from afar. We’ll travel ourselves to the orient and summer along the southern coast of Turkey. Our kids may live who knows where so we’ll bop around seeing them and playing with grandkids. Another great idea will develop, a second major venture will ensue and I’ll plow back into a business for a few more choice years. The business will be wildly successful and I’ll sell it off ending our concern for funds all together. We’ll give more to our kids, more to our church and start philantropic efforts that touch peoples lives. My wife and I will grow old together and enjoy long walks in land we occupy. We’ll end our days with a smile on our faces, a heart of thankfulness to God for good days, and the blessing of giving more than we received.
Totally enjoyable, and very interesting. You’ve accomplished quite a bit in 40 years! I like the way you packaged it, too. It flows nicely, and gives a sense of who you are. And I really like the way you’ve staked out a claim on your future as well. Blogs are funny, aren’t they? You’ve clearly got the angle on the tech stuff, but the primroses and this post are terrific. Very nice!
Kelly, Thanks for the encouraging comment. It was quite fun to write. I probably need to reference it as an “About Me” type of link below my pic.
Sounds like you’ve got some great goals lined up. I’m 34 and I’m already starting to get panicky, lol. I’m starting to look ahead at the future, planning for the kids needs, etc. You’re going to be one cool 40 year old, that’s for sure!
Having turned 40 last summer, looking back I can say the past year has been one of deep reflection and planning. Seems to be the thing we do at this stage in life. You’ve surely accomplished a lot. Here’s hoping the vineyard becomes a reality.
Christy, thanks for the comment. Sav, I appreciate your thoughts too. It’s great hearing from you folks. Yeah, there’s just something about turning 40 that causes one to dig deeper into our inner beings to ask some tough questions The last 40 have been good, I think the next 40 will be even better. Here’s to the future!
Life is full of surprises. Intuition may lead you to places and discoveries in your life not even up for consideration. From what you have written about what you have already done, I expect you will do things off the beaten path. Best of wishes for your next decade.
Princess Haiku, You are a very perceptive person. “Off the beaten path” I believe is the path I’m on for better and worse. I somehow found myself there. Maybe it’s “the road less travelled” that Frost speaks of or maybe it’s a short attentions span, or maybe an insatiable curiosity or a little of all the above. Not really sure, but it is an interesting ride. Thanks for your thoughts.
Your picture of 40 relaxing on the beach front is looking quite good to me. I passed 40 myself a few years back. No worries… 40 is the new 30. You’ll do fine as long as you keep both hands on the wheel.
Thanks Mr. Besilly for the encouragement and good perspective on turning 40. Turning 40 may be a really great thing as I’ve got some youthful energy matched with a little more wisdom that comes with age. I don’t know, but I do know that being a little self-aware is probably a good thing as I edge closer to it. Thanks for the wisdom you give as someone who is a few steps ahead.
Where are you Sparks? Vacation? Good weather? Life….
Kelly, yeah hit a rough spot w/ some work related stuff, you know the day job gotcha’s. Just a bit more draining at the moment. Oh yeah, got caught-up in some really great gardening too which is wonderful but took the greater part of the last couple of days.