Also see: Java Frameworks State of the (dis)Union.
Yesterday my coworkers redecorated my office. Pictures
in this blog entry are photos of their work. Strangely enough, I found myself
quite appreciative of their act of vandalism.
Today is my 40th birthday. Like most other days,
I started by walking the dog and making a To-Do list. However, today’s list
has a special item:
- Decide whether to have a mid-life crisis or not.
I’ll confess I am not entirely thrilled about being 40. It
doesn’t seem that long ago that 40 seemed far away. Now that it’s here, I
realize that it’s not what I expected. I thought my life at 40 would be
different.
Many who know me would assert that I have nothing to
complain about. And they would be correct. My life has been filled with
blessings of all kinds, for which I am truly thankful. I am a published
author. Most would consider me financially successful. I am in a career where
I enjoy my work.
But still…
As the old saying goes, nobody lies on their deathbed
wishing they had spent more time at the office.
Like most everybody else, when I was 30 I looked ahead ten
years and formed a picture in my mind. My life today doesn’t match that
picture very well. Examples:
- I thought by now I would be more solid in the quality of
my relationships with my loved ones and in the practice of my faith.
- I thought by now I would be a better guitar player.
- There’s a messy pile in my study that has been there for
ten years. (Yes, we moved six years ago. The heap moved too.) I thought
it would be cleaned up by now.
- I always assumed that by 40 I would have learned to
exercise regularly and stop eating junk food.
(more…)