Thirty Years Of Me And Life
It’s my birthday today and I thought I’d write something to commemorate this big milestone in my life. This is a list I’m making for me, to remind myself of my 30 years of existence. And, to plan for my life, now that I’m 30 and the world hasn’t ended :D
I’m splitting this list into three parts — A list of 10 things I’m grateful for; 10 things I wish I’d done differently; and a final list of 10 things that I want to do within this momentuous year.
So here goes…
PART ONE: TEN THINGS I’M GRATEFUL FOR
My parents — there was once a time in my life when I hid everything from them. I lied to them without batting an eyelid. I treated them like an enemy force that was constantly trying to get me down. I was a teenager for too long, clearly. However, today, they’re my best friends. Becoming a parent myself has finally made me realize what exactly they were doing for me all those years ago. I’m grateful for their presence in my life, for their undying affection and show of support. In short, my day feels incomplete if I’ve not spoken to them.
My sister — not everybody gets a sister who doubles up as their mother. Sure, we have our differences. We’ve clawed at each other’s hair; I’ve even bitten her in a peculiar rush of rage. But to be honest, I don’t remember those fights much. What I remember is how she used to chase me around the house spitting watermelon seeds aimed at me; how she was always the one who helped with my studies; how she tried to protect me from the world; and how she’s forever a role model in character and integrity.
My husband — it wasn’t easy getting married to him and those who know us, know what I mean. But, if there’s something I got really really right in my life, it’s this man! He maybe an engineer by profession, but he’s a magician when it comes to photography; he can shake a leg, belt out a tune and strum a lovely note on the guitar; and oh, did I mention he’s a runner? In short, he’s much more than just an engineer. He’s a loving soul that old people immediately warm up to; a funny guy who can laugh at himself; and he’s someone who believes in my dreams more than even I do. He’s always the first to apologize after a fight; he’s so sensitive to my thoughts that he can pick them out of thin air; and he’s the most hardworking, committed and sincere guy I’ve met. Yup, I bagged the best!
My daughter — if it weren’t for her, I’d have never known life as I know now. A surprise baby, I wasn’t really ready to be a mom. But I’ve come so far from all that unpreparedness. She throws her tantrums; she’s given me sleepless nights; and she does drive me up the wall every now and then. But, she like her father, can immediately sense when she’s upset me; she immediately tries to appease me; to make me less mad! Coming from a two-and-half-year old, that’s golden! She’s a smart, beautiful, loving and seriously fun kid to raise and grow up with. As she grows older, the ways she needs me have changed —and I hope I’d be ready to be there for her however she needs me to be. And, I hope my memories of her childhood, when she’s still just a tiny bundle in my hands, never leave my mind.
My friends here — as we grow older, most of us become more rigid and find it tougher to make real friends. But, I’ve been blessed with a set of friends here in the U.S. who’re almost family to me! I might have joined the “group” through my husband, but I now feel like I’ve always been a part of it; like I can depend on them for when life’s good and when it’s not so good. They’re part of some of my fondest memories since I got married and moved to the U.S. and I appreciate every moment we spend together. These are people who let us stay at their place for nearly 2 months while our stuff made it’s way from India to the U.S.; they’re people who love my child like their own and come prepared with food for her as well as their own daughter; they’re people who cheered me on when I set up my own writing business; they’re people who make me laugh so hard, I feel out of breath sometimes!
My work-from-home writing career — if it weren’t for my husband, I’d have been yet another well-educated woman who’s mentally rotting away here in the U.S. He pushed me to start freelancing as a writer and today, a year later, I’ve grown myself into a small business owner! Wee!! :D My work helps us send our daughter to a great daycare facility; it helps me support my parents monetarily after a very long time; it helps us live a little more comfortably; but most importantly, it helps me keep in touch with who I am: A writer. For, until February last year, I’d forgotten what it felt like to string words together in a perfect sentence. I’d lost touch with my inner flow. And, it was making me a miserable person who was just existing. Today, I live with purpose, deadlines and endless creativity. Writing everyday has helped revive the real me.
The Internet — it’s what makes life possible for me today. It helps me do my work, sure. But, that’s not what I mean. Without the Internet, I’d not have found some of the fantastic clients I write for today. I’d not have been able to access such amazing works of writing that inspire my work. And I’d not be able to coordinate with a team of fantastic people situated all over the world, across different timezones and life experiences. Thanks to the Internet, I now regularly interact with a Brazillian digital nomad; an English lady who’s settled down in the Jordanian desert; men and women who work to improve management practices in the Netherlands; and a Chinese client who’s more friend than business acquaintance. I never imagined something as amazing as this for myself. And who knows who I’d be interacting with tomorrow?
My driver’s license — back in India, I was never a homebody. I was always out, sometimes late into the night with friends or because of work. Being a journalist meant I roamed the city streets looking for stories. And then I got married and moved here to the U.S. and everything changed. Suddenly, I couldn’t go anywhere on my own. And certain visa issues prevented me from even applying for a drivers license the first time I was here. That said, I finally got my license here last year after stuggling to remember all the different road rules! I’m now free to come and go as I please and what can be more liberating than that? Very little else, in my opinion! :D
My gym — it has a studio with a projector and screen that allows me to take virtual classes…all by myself! I don’t know about you, but I get all too concious in a live, group class. I once went to a live class — an aerobics class with steps and risers. And, I came out shamefaced because I’d not gotten even one sequence right. I was like this bumbling moron at the back of the class that the others were trying to ignore. And, maybe not laugh at. But today, I’m confident with the step-up aerobics because I could take the class virtually, all by myself and master the moves. Now I’m ready for a live class!
My life — writing this list has made me realize that there maybe a 100 things that I wish were different, but my life isn’t one of them. I’m truly happy with what I have today. I’ve managed to turn around a lot of things for myself, with a little help from those around me. I’ve grown into a decent human being; I married the right guy; I had a child at the right moment(even though it didn’t feel like it back then) and I’ve stayed true to my dream of being a writer. I’ve got most of my boxes checked and I’m only 30 today! I’ve got my entire life left to conquer the other “more-elusive” goals like losing weight, being an awesome mother, being a multi-billionaire author (:p) and seeing the world. For now, for today, this will do. :)
Wishing myself a very happy birthday and another year to make myself proud!
