For my 33rd Year...
On the bedstand: [empty]Coming through the speakers: Ain't Wasting Time No More by the Allman Brothers "Last Sunday morning, the sunshine felt like rain / Week before, they all seemed the same / With the help of God and true friends, I come to realize / I still had two strong legs, and even wings to fly"
I spent the first day of my 33rd year in my hometown of Dublin, Ireland. What?! Life obviously hasn't unfolded as anticipated, but it's just as awe-inspiring as ever.When I woke up on that cool, grey, Irish morning, I wanted little more than to be outdoors. I went for a short run, despite better medical advice. As I stretched my legs on the street, a 70+ year old lady walked by and pinched my ass. I smiled. It was going to be a good day.After the run, I gathered my things for an afternoon hike near the small fishing village of Howth. Reports of rain be damned, I was going to enjoy my day outside. A bit of my German past crept up in me and I thought how nice it would be to bring a beer along. And so I did. Because it was my birthday.
View Larger MapAfter exploring the 1000 year ruins of a castle and abbey outside of the town, I found the trail. Without warning, a vista opened in front of me. I was on a cliff, with the ocean pounding into the island 400 meters below me. Brilliant.
I followed the path as it hugged the sides of the rocky cliffs. A storm was passing by, giving the barren and craggy landscape an even moodier feel. It was Ireland, exactly as you'd imagine it to be.After about an hours hike, a lighthouse could be seen hugging a small peninsula. Around each cliff, Baily Lighthouse grew closer and more dramatic. "Yes!" I shouted. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" With the lighthouse in front of me, I looked back at the cliffs plunging into the sea. The rain started to come down a bit heavier. Pure joy.
The return trek was just as enjoyable, if a bit hurried. I had to rush back to Dublin for dinner. The Italian crew had made homemade lasagna and cheesecake. There was no way I'd missing something like that! The dinner lived up to it's billing. I mean, how could it not?! The sauce was homemade in Italy and sent to Dublin. Mamma mia!After dinner, I snuck away for a Google Hangout with my boys Chance, Nate, Dave, and Clint. The "family" if you will. As each of them joined the chat, a round of cheers erupted. Pure joy. It could have been a Google commercial. Clint's battle with technology lasted a bit longer than the rest of ours. Once he finally joined us, he greeted us, beer in hand, with "What is this is bullshit." Vintage Clint. That set the tone for the next 1.5 hours(!).And like that, the birthday was over. Sadly. Birthdays come and go much too quickly. But thank you all for making me feel so special!As for the year ahead, it's going to be a good one. My main goal: be happy. And I am happy right now. But I need to remember to maintain it. Don't get caught up in the little things. Don't get consumed by work. Remember how special the people in your life are (and remember to tell them that!). Take notice of the good and the bad and the in between. Don't be afraid to make yourself vulnerable from time to time. And smile. If you find me forgetting any of these things, give me a good thump to the head and keep me straight!