I’ve lived alone for ten-plus years. The only prospect of having spine surgery that was scary for me was trying to figure out how my bandages would be tended to daily. I’ve had someone that’s been willing to help, but it’s been a drain on them. Today, through my hubris of showering after having my wound dressed, I got the bandage wet, it peeled partway off. With a hand mirror, I carefully redressed it myself.
Comparing last year’s surface-level aesthetics to this year’s, not much’s changed. I’m still in the apartment-mansion. Some objects probably haven’t even moved in that year; closer to most. Yet, digging deeper, I feel like I’ve made substantial progress in many important areas, even if I’ve regressed in some other important areas. I’ve written a novel since last year! I may write another before I turn 35! If it weren’t for health degradation, I’d say life’s better…
WANNA CONSIDER SOME BIRTHDAY PLANS IN TERMS OF LIFE GOALS? CLICK HERE TO KEEP ON READING!
In ENDLESS WAR, I was thrust into a morality decision that I did not like, so I acted or perhaps overreacted in ways that best suit my core thoughts on life. This didn’t make the other happy. When I woke up, I found myself writing my life’s ethos over the period of roughly ten minutes. It’s not a perfect representation of every aspect of my beliefs. However, as a broad starter, I think it’s fair.
WANNA SEE HOW I OUTLINED MY VALUE SYSTEM SO YOU MIGHT OUTLINE YOURS? CLICK HERE TO KEEP ON READING!
“What’d you do over your birthday?[1]” “Just hung out with the wife. Did what I wanted to do all weekend, basically.[2]” “That’s great. Our birthdays are the only day where we can be autonomous and really celebrate ourselves. The rest of the year, we’ve gotta give our autonomy over to others.[1]” “I hadn’t really thought of it like that, but you’re right.[2]” This essay publishes on my birthday; what will I do on this day?
I think we start new projects, ventures, and adventures because there’s a rush of excitement over the unknown. As we dredge through the details, we begin realizing how much of a mistake that was, but the trick is figuring out if that was truly a mistake or just something that we must endure. If it was a bad idea type mistake, let that thing go, but if it’s just inconvenient, don’t let that passion go!
A new ticket appeared at the top of the ticket system’s list. High priority! “obscura4 down!” The second-level computer repair technician tasked with managing the queue, Sammohini, read through the ticket details. In the private notes, the first-level technician noted “customer says venkat always fixes this. hes out sick. does we need 2 call him?” She assigned the ticket to herself. ‘No one’s here,’ she thought, ‘and Venkat’s out sick, poor guy… let’s find his notes!’
If there were one day of the year to practice healthy self-respect, it’d be your birthday. We continually sacrifice ourselves for others throughout the year. Why not reclaim our autonomy on our birthdays? Do what you enjoy doing most, do nothing, or do something ambitious! In “The Story,” Trishna [right] and her family have that attitude toward birthdays, so when John [left] has his first birthday as part of “the family,” it’s a culture shock.
Spoilers?: Minor (just character building)
WANNA CONSIDER THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ARROGANCE AND CONFIDENCE IN REGARDS TO HOW YOU TREAT YOURSELF AND OTHERS ON YOUR BIRTHDAY? CLICK HERE TO KEEP ON READING!
Thrift stores are wrought with morality and mortality. Every item was once someone’s misguided best intentions, loss of interest, or change in life situation. It’s no one’s fault. Handling donations one winter years back, I once accepted a woman’s donations and the story of her daughter outgrowing them, only to see some of those innocent objects destroyed in the trash compactor hours later. At least I gave her a sense of restoring her intended honor.
“Yeah, and I can even cover it with artificial grass.”
Why did she tag along for this car buying adventure, again? Jim was often musing aloud as he drove the delivery truck: “If we go in 50/50, I’ll fix it up, we can sell it, split it 50/50, and we’ll get some quick cash.” It was boredom. Open mic was full tonight.
“Would we need to… mow it?[1]”
The seller took the snide question in stride.
“Actually…[2]”
Perfection is the enemy of self-confidence. There is no more prominent a killer of people than their sense of having made an irreversible mistake. Businesses that fail to adapt, because they had once perfected a technique, will surely fail in the future. How do we prevent this? Part of it might be remembering that there is no perfect stick of gum, or perfect angle with which to affix that gum to a charming gum wall!
