Maybe it’s an age thing, but instead of focusing on New Years resolutions, I am thinking about all of the things I have to be grateful for. So, in no particular order, here are a few…
- I am alive. As in not dead. I could very easily have died twice in my 50’s, but I didn’t. So here’s one of my lessons from this experience: no matter how bad things are, if you are alive you get the chance to make them right again, at least to the best of your ability. And that’s good enough – because as long as you are really trying to do the right thing, your past can be forgiven. We are all imperfect and flawed.
- I have someone who loves me unconditionally, and I have the immense pleasure of returning that love. It’s a very rare and good feeling to know that someone loves you, and they have the personal strength to truly have your back no matter how difficult things get. She was tested when I had cancer, so I know what she is capable of. If you are lucky enough to have somebody like this in your life – don’t ever let them go.
- We live in a glorious time. OK, bear with me here for a moment. What I mean is simply to point out that we are living in a time of technological development that borders on magic. Except it’s not magic – it’s science, and it’s very much real. According to Ray Kurzweil’s timeline, we are at the beginning of the knee of an exponential growth curve in technology, and the development of general AI is going to be a very, very big part of it. It’s going to be a very interesting and bumpy ride…
- The people I love and care about are healthy and alive.
- My mind is intact and as sharp as ever, and my state of health allows me to function at a very high level.
- I have a job that I love, working with people I like and respect, where I get to help people in a meaningful way. I’m not sure it gets any better than that.
- For all of it’s flaws, I have the privilege of living in a first world country, the U.S. This means I have access to good health care, I am not going hungry, I have a roof over my head, and I make a decent wage. I have the luxury of having my needs met, so that I can try to help others enjoy the same.
- I have very good pup.
Let’s welcome in 2018 and give it our best fucking shot. No holding back, and no fear. Try and make every day count, to the best of our ability, and treat each other and ourselves with respect, compassion, and forgiveness. We’re on our way to the finish line, and this moment ain’t coming again.