10 Years
In the song "7 Years", the Danish pop singer Lukas Graham talks about various milestones in his life that he had achieved and will achieve. He dispenses life advice that he had received from his parents.
7 years old, 11 years old, 20 years old... 30 years old... 60 years old...
Each one of these ages, Lukas is told something, or something will happen. Today, I reached two milestones myself...
While I myself currently have lived to the age of 33 years old and have been told many things, I feel as though my life is still beginning and I have a lot to learn. At the same time I feel old hat at some things.
Today was a strange day. May 4th. To some it was, as what is known to be Star Wars day. May the 4th (force) be with you.
To others on my Facebook feed, it was a birthday. To some others at my workplace, it marked the beginning of their retirement part of their lives.
To me, it was 6 months since my mom passed away. It's tough. I want to talk to her. I listen to old voicemails that she left me. I have other recordings and photos of her and ways to remember her. I can always just replay memories of discussions that we had. Or events that took place. Unfortunately in the last 5 or so years it was mostly related to doctors visits and hospitalizations. But there are other good memories in there of us just going out to dinner or her watching her favorite shows and laughing over and over at the same stuff she'd seen a million times before. Her Golden Girl's DVD's or the comedian that has all the puppets... Like the "Jalapeño on a stick" guy. She thought that bit was the funniest thing ever.
Today we had an awards ceremony at work. Several people retired from their jobs. One was leaving to switch careers after only 19 years. Another was retiring to volunteer in a different part of the college. Yet another had worked her final 39th year at the college. Actually, her husband was there as well... He was my elementary school gym teacher believe it or not. Small world right? She also played lacrosse in high-school, college, and while getting her master's degree... In all 10 of those years... She was undefeated in every game she played. She made it to the united states women's lacrosse team and beat out England on to win an international game of some sort. I don't have the facts in front of me, I was just told that today. I never knew. I've known this person since I started at the college... and I only just found this out. I knew she played lacrosse though. I just never knew that she was undefeated in every game that she played as a youngster.
Like my mom she was a physical fitness teacher. She ran that department at the college for 39 years. And today she retired.
Today I reached my own milestone... 10 years at the college. Time has definitely flown by. I remember the first day on the job. October 24th 2005. I remember it like it was yesterday.
I'm not sure what my future holds. But I'm sure there will be various other milestones ahead for me. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.
For now, I just continue on and see what happens. I don't think anyone sets out to work somewhere for 10 years, or 39 years. Just like they don't set out to win 10 years straight of lacrosse games. And I'm sure that when Lukas Graham first was told to make friends at 7 years old, that he'd later write a song about it.
No one really knows what the future will hold, or how the past will come back to be told and retold again and again, just like the stories and memories shared today at the ceremony.
But whatever the milestones are, they should be celebrated. I didn't really give it much thought, 10 years. The actually date came and went. And my mom was admitted to the ICU soon after that 10 year mark came... So it wasn't on my mind... But receiving the award along with the fun little commemorative crystal cube that they gave us... It felt good.
It feels good to mark dates and years with celebration. So feel free to mark your own accomplishments and celebrate them. And feel good about what you've accomplished. Be it, 1 year, 10 years, 39 years... Whatever. Own it. Rock it. Sing it out. And feel free to shed a tear or two of both joy and sorrow. It happens. I mean if we didn't the tissue company would go out of business.
Today, I shed a little tear of both joy and sadness. 6 months since losing my mom, 10 years since starting my job.
Life is filled with both happy times and sad times and sometimes they both happen at the same time.
Leave a comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.