There is a famous saying by Confucius, “Every man has two lives, and the second starts when he realizes he has just one”. I know, it seems strange to begin the post with some sort of “memento mori” saying because I’m about to turn 31, but, i’ve always been urgent about the passing of time. I do believe that human beings are horrible at underwriting the risk of passing time. We usually wait until time has done the damage to be remorseful of the things not done, the words not spoken, and the chances not taken. Having fully exited my 20s, I’ve now understood how seminal that time in my life was. It was the ideal time to take major risks, to fall in love, to be heart broken, move to a different city, meet new people, maneuver office politics and personal conflict, and on the financial side, invest as much as possible. Time takes on a new meaning as you enter your early 30’s. The adults who were so full of life when you were a teenager begin to pace their steps, speak a little softer, and travel a lot less. Eventually, they die. Father Time comes for all of us.
So, you might be saying, 31 isn’t that old. It isn’t, but it’s also not that young. Looking back, almost everything seems like a blur. I’ve left college and have been working in corporate America for almost 7 years. I’ve left relationships with individuals whom I thought I would have spent the rest of my life with. I’ve made countless mistakes with life, love, and finances but I’ve also made some wins. I’ve travelled to Europe for the first time in March, and will be doing some more traveling this year. Joie de vivre! I mention this all to say, life is an esoterica of conundrum and “all else” never holds constant.
Birthdays are a good reminder that you must live life with intention. I don’t know if this is a saying that I heard somewhere that I’ve co-opted to be my own but I will take the credit until I’ve been sued for plagiarism, “Money and good decisions compound, time does not”.
This past Sunday, I was sitting down at my favorite coffee spot in Dallas, Civil Pour. I love that place, especially in the summer. Quick tangent on the summer. As someone who is from the Caribbean, I’ve come to enjoy the few sunny months Texas provides. Yes, it’s hot as hell, but I prefer that over the cold. I waste no time on the weekends when it’s summer. As Jenny Han would say, “For me, it was almost like winter didn't count. Summer was what mattered. My whole life was measured in summers.” I find this to be extremely true the older I get. I also love writing. It’s therapeutic. It helps me when I feel there’s a lot to be said that needs to be remembered or communicated. So for that reason, I write.
So, at 31, there’s much more to be done and I’m hopeful about the future. The unknown of life makes it exciting, the serendipitous nature of living is part of its charm. So, never forget to mark time, live life, and know that it’s a tragedy to live a life smaller than you have to.
la vie en rose,
Daviel