I can never remember how old I am. It seems to surprise people that I don’t know off the top of my head.

Since I turned 25 (that last real age-related hurdle before retirement -- you know, being able to rent a car), it just hasn’t mattered. I can vote and buy wine and rent that car, so what’s the point of keeping track? I’m not planning on running for president, so 35 isn’t going to be any kind of milestone for me.

When people ask how old I am, I have to think about it and do a little higher math. It’s not as easy as simply subtracting the year I was born from the current year -- since I was born at the end of the year, that trick works for me only one day of the year.

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The Christmas/birthday/New Year combination always makes me nostalgic and hopeful. It’s a time to look back on where I’ve been, and to contemplate where I might want to go from here. It’s a time to reconnect with old friends via those once-a-year Christmas cards -- what joy I’ve had reading what others have been up to this past year. It’s a time to take stock of old habits and ideas, to examine them and decide if they are still serving me well or if it’s time for them to be put away. It’s a time of infinite possibilities, of considering strange and crazy things.

My life this past year has been good, athough not without it’s rough spots. All in all, things are good. I was in the running for a job in a different field earlier this year, but decided not to take it after weighing salary and responsibility against lifestyle considerations. The fact that I was considered a solid candidate for that position gave me a much-needed boost. Since then, I’ve been handed a few more interesting challenges at my current job, and I’m loving having the chance to learn all these new things. I’ve been pushing myself with my art, and I’m learning to loosen up and to not try so hard to control every little thing -- and to not lose it when it all falls apart. I’ve made some new friends. I’ve had a great time hosting the Oahu Dining and Discourse Society every month or so. I’ve been lucky enough to travel a bit this year and visit with family and friends.

As I approach the new year, I’m grateful for all that is good in my life, and hopeful that the not-so-good can be improved, or at least put in proper perspective. I look forward to exploring some new opportunities and ideas that are sitting on the edge of my mind.

- posted by Lori @ 6:40:00 PM | permanent link | |