Coming into a New Age!

Dateline - Gainesville, GA - Today was the big one, "five-oh". It wasn't so bad. I have had far worse birthdays than this one. But it was as good as time as any to reflect on where I have been, what lies ahead and then the question of, "How much time do I have to do it?"

I don't know about you, but my 30th birthday was the worst. At that time, I had to give up on excuses on why I wasn't where I wanted or expected to be. No grays inter-spersed (is that even a word) in my hair the way they are now. But I did have high expectations of myself. I had spend 5 years in the service, got out, worked for my parents, got a real job, quit and had a small business.

Most folks would have been satisfied. But I have always thought higher than that. I thought I should have been a millionaire by 30. I wasn't. And at the time, I was alot farther from it that I was closer. Alot farther.

So I sat in my crappy little one bedroom apartment in a major funk for a week. I went out minimally and came to the realization that achieving your goals wasn't just something you "thought" about. It was something you acted upon.

Funny thing was, 2 years later on paper at least, I was a bna fide millionaire. A friend and I started a company, working long hours at it after work almost 7 days a week for about 7 months before we took in a dime. We were fortunate (or not depending upon your perspective) to take it public when I was 32.

I was all about the dollar and the chase for it. I had read Trump's first book and others like it and I wanted to be a titan of business. We lived in California then I wanted to live in a place called Blackhawk. Blackhawk is where the pro players lived, a gated community where the homes were a million dollars (which 18 years ago was not such a common thing).

In the process of "the chase" as I have come to call it, I lost myself and almost everything that was dear to me. Fortunately, I had Julie by my side to keep the guideposts visible and had more belief in me than I ever had. Thank God for her!

Things are definitely different now. Do I have the wanderlust of wanting to build another business rather than work for others? Yes, but not for the same reason. Back then, IT WAS about making big bucks. Now, I just want something that I can spend more time with Julie, the kitty's and our friends. While money is important to enjoy things like trips that have memories attached to them, the saying I read in USA Today recently hits the nail on the head, "If it doesn't breath, it doesn't matter!"

I still have things that I want to do in life such as learn to play the piano (Julie got me one, now I have to learn to play it) start a coffee house (be part of the community) be a speaker or author (don't ask me what I would speak or write about) or to be the best husband and friend I can be (the only thing here that I am actively working on).

Life IS short. More than likely, I am into the second half of living. Kind of a sobering thought when you think about it. I think alot about my Dad who passed last September and in some ways feel cheated. He had more time with his Dad than I did. I miss him and although he did frustrate me (don't all parents do that to their children?), I wish I could still pick up the phone and have my weekly chat.

As ususual I digress - Most of the day was just being lazy. Although I did get some stuff to put on the lawn. We also looked at some new furniture and talked about where we ultimately want to live.

Julie took me out to dinner and it was the best meal I have had in a long, long time. Her company, along with the food made for a memorable meal. She then made a feeble excuse to drop by a friends' house and they had a party for me. Really, she is going to have to get alot better if she truly wants it to be a surprise. Nevertheless, it was fun having friends drop by and to meet some new folks. And I thank everyone for putting it together.

All in all, it was a wonderful day for coming into a New Age.