Life at 32

I am writing this piece almost a month after my birthday, not because I was too busy to sit down but because life has been hectic and all over the place. My life still makes no sense on the outside, but I’m exactly where I need to be, learning exactly what I need to learn to become the greatest version of myself.

So little time
Try to understand that I’m
Trying to make a move just to stay in the game, I
Try to stay awake and remember my name, but
Everybody’s changing
And I don’t feel the same

From Everybody’s Changing by Keane

Last year, just a few months before my birthday, I redesigned my life so that I could commit 100% to Rosa. A year later, it has already paid off. I got to work in Toronto, San Francisco, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro, and Belo Horizonte before returning to Ottawa and prepare for the next chapter of my life. The theme for this year is commitment, one of the scariest things to do in life, yet one of the most rewarding and important things we can all do.

Life at 32 feels like crossing a bridge, where almost everything I’ve worked for is about to pay off, while at the same time, nothing is getting any easier; we’re just getting better every day, solving one problem at a time until we cross the bridge.

Committing to yourself, your craft, your vision, and your love is scary because it shuts down many doors. But it also opens many unforeseen doors that we don’t even know exist until we face them. Life at 32 feels like crossing a bridge, where almost everything I’ve worked for is about to pay off, while at the same time, nothing is getting any easier; we’re just getting better every day, solving one problem at a time until we cross the bridge.

Rosa is alive and well, and Eric is now a dad who impresses me daily at work. I have never underestimated his ability, but I’m impressed by how fast he levels up, understands what is needed and finds ways to solve problems. His commitment to Rosa is undeniable.

Commitment to me means going all in and being willing to deal with the consequences because success is never guaranteed. I’d rather be a public failure than a coward, so I don’t mind having my neck on the line, 24/7, 7 days a week.

It’s becoming hard to write motivational posts (like I used to) because I’m running on hard mode myself. I don’t need motivation, and you don’t either. If you truly want something, go for it, or else you shut the fuck up. I’m noticing that people ultimately have what they want, whether or not they are living their dream life, because every day, through their actions and decisions, they optimize their life for specific results.

Nobody gets too much heaven no more
It’s much harder to come by, I’m waiting in line
Nobody gets too much love anymore
It’s as high as a mountain and harder to climb

From Too Much Heaven by the Bee Gees

I feel like I’m just entering my prime, and I know Rosa is the one. Our plans for the company, our partners, and the communities we’ll touch are great, and they must become a reality because they are wonderful. The opportunity to commit your life to doing good and then having the ability to do so at scale is not given to everybody; I truly hope that everybody around me realizes how lucky we are to be doing what we do.

Every day, working on Rosa feels like building the Sistine Chapel, a long lasting masterpiece. Anyway, life at 32 is great. It’s not perfect; it’ll never be, but it’s great. I’m already the man I’ve always wanted to be.

If there is anything you can take away from this tiny essay, it is that if you want to truly experience the world, you need to commit. Commit to something or someone, go all in, and you’ll see how your human experience is transformed. Most importantly, don’t give up on yourself; you alone can save your life.

Love, Ned.

I write about my experiences, entrepreneurship and stoicism on medium, and tweet at @NedNadima.