Tomorrow is my birthday

Tomorrow, I turn 35.  For some, I’m quite the old man.  For others, I’m practically a baby.  As we as a species have longer life expectancies, “mid-life” changes and the perspective of what is young versus what is old changes.  This puts me in the unique position of having learned a lot, and also accepting that I have a lot to learn.  When you reach a certain age, you don’t suddenly become wise.  For many it could even be said that wisdom is never achieved.  This is all noise.  Let me get to my point.

There are a lot of bad things going on in the world.  Admittedly, there have ALWAYS been a lot of bad things going on in the world.  People have always had ways of dealing – turning to God, taking advantage, giving up etc.  I think, however, things seem worse lately because we’re all so connected.  Technology has increased the ability to communicate exponentially, and has given a voice to almost everyone. 

Some people have some great things to say, some have some terrible things to say. Some make stuff up just for the sake of getting a rise out of others.  Some wonderful achievements have been made, some terrible events have occurred. 

It seems now that we’re always tuned in, we’ve truly stared into the abyss, and it is staring back.  It seems that tragedies, drama, stress, anxiety has permeated into every home and now the terror of external tragedies has come home.  I’ve always been pretty anxious, but I must admit that lately my dander is up quite a lot. 

I’m not saying the answer is to retreat back into ignorance, but more to see what we have, and think of how we can use it to positively influence one another.  So, for my birthday, you don’t have to wish me a happy birthday, or buy me a present. 

Be kind to someone.  Reach out and speak to someone you haven’t in a while for whatever reason.  Help a stranger.  Or even just unplug for a while, and take time for yourself.  Listen to your inner monologue without outside distraction.  You might learn something about yourself, or someone else.  You might reconnect. You might be reminded why you disconnected.  I’m hoping that maybe we can all focus on the positive, and not be so damn negative all the time.

I don’t know.  I’m going to unplug myself for a while, take some time to get to know Erik again.  The 25 year old is much different than the 35 year old, but I still think there’s a lot to teach one another.  Plus, I have a family now, and I’d rather they get to know the kind and giving me, not the stressed and nervous me.

Peace.