This is a somewhat personal post. I don’t share my birthday on social media (mostly because your date of birth is one of the security checks companies use to identify you). But I will allow that a little while ago, I was fortunate enough to complete decade six on this planet.
Starting decade seven felt odd. I normally think of birthdays as just another day. But, I guess as cliched as it is, hitting the big 6-0 did feel different. There was, as is typical, the comprehension that there were likely fewer days ahead than there were behind. Like many people, it also triggered a “life review,” a natural psychological process of reflecting on past decisions and unresolved regrets.
It was also somewhat bittersweet. My mother died at age 59 (stomach cancer). The realization that I have spent more time on this planet than she did certainly brought many mixed emotions.
But at the end of the day, I became aware of just how blessed I am. While my parents followed the typical immigrant path of working hard and living cramped quarters, we always had a roof over our heads. My kids may not have a yacht, but they always had food on the table and were fortunate enough to do a bunch of activities growing up that I never could. I was able to put them through school and get them a good head start on life. We were not victims of some horrific war, or famine, or natural disaster. I feel truly blessed to be healthy and for having kids without major health issues. (I’ve seen first hand just how much stress is put on families when a loved one has medical problems. I have nothing but admiration and respect for how they deal with it).
What does the future hold? Who’s to say? I can only tell you what I hope to accomplish with however much time I have left. First and foremost, I hope to be able to continue to help people who are in need (whether for health or other reasons). How I do that will likely continue to evolve as it has during my first six decades. But I think we should all try to others when we can. It’s particularly incumbent upon those of us, like myself, who have had a more fortunate time on this Earth.
Some people mellow with age. I suspect I will get grumpier. Which means more opinionated blogs with strong views as time goes on. (I’ll go out on a limb and suggest bureaucrats in general will be even more unhappy with me, which is really saying something.)
Finally, I, like many of you, also have a bucket list. I hope to begin chipping away at that while I can still stand on my own two feet. Which is why, I decided to start this decade off like this:
justanoldcountrydoctor 