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Johnson Kee
Human, father, writer. Founder and Editor at 100 Naked Words.
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Letter sent on Aug 7, 2016

Letter #14: Where do you want to be 30 years from now?

Inspiration from Gail’s post today.

It’s Sunday morning. Up before everyone else in the house, I got to work. French lessons on Duolingo — check. Write up my 100NW submission — check. Approve contributors’ submissions for 100NW — check.

As I was scrolling through the submissions, one caught my eye. It was Gail's submission, “Class of 1986”. She was going to be travelling a couple hours up north for her 30 year high school reunion.

I’ve always respected my elders. It was just something I was taught growing up. No matter what they may be like, they have experienced a longer life than I have. There is always something to learn from them.

At the risk of making dear Gail sound old, the time she has been away from her high school is longer than my total life on this planet (no harm meant, Gail!)

I’m always trying to expand my sense of time, always trying to shake off the naivete that comes with seemingly being perpetually younger to the people that matter to me.

I’d like to think I’m already acting older than I am — then this sort of a post comes along and puts me in my place. Johnson, you have a long way to go before you can really be older than your years.

It just made me think: where do I want to be 30 years from now? I mean sure, I’ve thought about it… vaguely. It’s fleetingly crossed my mind. I’m more focused on the next five to 10 years. And even then, these became focuses after I stopped being so narrow-minded.

It’s this impatience of youth I want to get rid of. It’s not doing me any favours — but I digress.

30 years from now, I want to:

  • not be waking up every day wondering how much I’ll have to save for the month to not run out of money,
  • have taken Charlotte travelling around the world (I’m more of a homebody, but she’s got the traveller’s bug), and
  • spend the time raising my child/ren in a way that allows them to focus on the right things in life.

Vague-ish sort of goals I guess, but when I think about them, goals nonetheless.

Where do you want to be in 30 years time?

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Until next week,

-J.