I had a milestone birthday over the weekend, and as I looked forward to the future, I reflected on the lessons I learned along the way.
Here, in no particular order — and without editing — are the ones that came to mind.
You are never too old to fall in love. It will grab you when you least expect it, have its way with you, and leave you at the side of the road, exhausted and bleeding but thankful for the surprise.
Bitches peak early. Be patient, nerds; One day you will be cool.
There’s nothing sweeter than reconnecting with old friends who shaped your life 50 years earlier. Thank you, Facebook.
The secret to a long-lasting relationship is to never break up.
It’s better to be happy than to be right.
This, too, shall pass. And then there will be more stuff to deal with. It’s called life, and it’s beautiful.
When you are stuck in limbo, filled with uncomfortable emotions, sit with them. Give thanks because you are on the cusp of a breakthrough. Don’t try to medicate it away because you will miss its greatest gift.
If it hurts, keep it to yourself. Sharing your pain with people who will explain and give you advice about your experience through the filter of their experiences does nothing but break up relationships.
You can’t fix inside problems with outside solutions.
Disappointment is the child of expectations. You can only be disappointed if your expectations aren’t met. Let go of expectations. Let life surprise you.
Change is inevitable. Surrender to its magic.
Don’t waste your precious life making energy-sucking comparisons with other people’s lives.
When someone says, “I will always love you,” it’s over. Move on. Cut ties. Completely. Then see how long always lasts.
No matter how far or how often you travel, you can’t run away from yourself.
If you have something meaningful to say to someone, say it in person.
Don’t give advice you wouldn’t take.
Always leave a hotel room tidy and clean. Just because you’re paying for a room doesn’t give you the right to be a slob. Pretend your mother is the cleaning lady.
You can’t make up for lost time.
God is not a pronoun. There is only one God, but there is more than one way to know and understand Her. Don’t limit God by thinking yours is the only way to get to Him.
Some of the most God-loving people I’ve ever met are atheists.
The Best of The First 65
Best Travel Day – Waking up overlooking the Parthenon in Athens, going to sleep overlooking the Eiffel Tower in Paris
Best Lifechanging Trip – Cuba 2016
Best Meal – Other than my mom’s frijoles negros, a dish whose name I can’t pronounce, in a tiny town in Hungary whose name I don’t remember. There are other “best” meals, but that’s the one that stands out in my mind.
Best Career Highlight – Athens Olympics 2004
#1 Bucket List Trip – Lebanon and Petra
Worst Day of My Life – Any day above ground is a good day
Best Day of My Life – Any day above ground is a good day
Memorable Moment – Seeing my grandmother at the top of the stairs at Penn Station in NY when my parents and I arrived from Miami and hearing her say: “I told you we would see each other again.” I believe those will be her words to me when I meet her again on the other side.
Other Career Highlights: Working at the #1 station in the #1 market right out of college.
Best Career Surprise: My current position at We Do Web. To be valued for my life’s experience is the icing on the career cake.
Best moments since I stopped drinking alcohol: All of them
Best Treasure In My Life: My spirituality because it helps me appreciate all the other treasures and protects me from those distractions that seem like treasures but aren’t.
Best Talent: Writing
What I Most Dislike About Myself: My temper
What I Most Like About Myself: My passion (another name for my temper), my sensitivity.
Best Moment in Sports: 1969 NY Mets
Best Personal Moments in Sports: Completing three NYC Marathons
Biggest Failure: What’s failure?
Biggest Success: I haven’t had it yet
Best Part of Traveling: Coming home
And the best part of it all is having a life partner to share it with. “You’ll be 50 soon,” she told me on my 40th birthday. Twenty-five years later, she’s the life-traveling companion I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.
Trading Barbs With Barb 