On Turning 42

I turned 42 today. Though it won’t be exact until December, I’ve essentially been out of college now for twenty years. Sometimes I get down on myself. I feel like I haven’t accomplished enough in my life so far. It doesn’t help that I chronically feel like I have a countdown ticking in the background, like I’m always about to run out of time.

When I experience these negative thoughts, I try to flip them around and instead consider the positive things that I have achieved in the last twenty years. Life has been good to me–it’s important I stop and recognize that fact.

If you’ll humor me, I’d like to run through a few blessings …

Married a wonderful, intelligent, hard-working, beautiful woman
Given two adorable, creative, smart, and talented little girls
Worked steadily in education for the past (almost) twenty years
Wrote a fantasy novel, a science fiction novel, and two short story collections
Earned my Master’s degree
Built a house (not literally)
Made some pretty cool appearances in promotion of my writing
Kept in touch with old friends; made some lifelong new ones
Published many, many short stories of various genres
Gotten more and more involved with our church
Wrote a three-book e-series
Made a positive impact on hundreds of students’ lives
Taken some amazing trips

These may not seem like that big of a deal to some, but for me, they all represent those things I value most in life. Family, friends, writing, education–these are the cornerstones of my existence. These are the things that make me happy.

Though I’m not making as much money as I wold like, and though I’m not as widely-read as I would like, it’s vital to remember that the most important things in my life are being accomplished daily. My wife and I make enough money. I should be honored even one person devotes their time to my writing. In other words, I shouldn’t be greedy. I am incredibly fortunate.

It’s been a great run so far. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store!

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