The way you feel about life, people and the world around you, the things you think, say, and do, fashion the response you get back from life, and shape your reality. So you get from the world what you give to the world. […] You attract to you the same vibrations you give off. This is the nature of yin/yang.
Every Day Tao; Leonard Willoughby
Today I turn 40. It’s the start of a new decade, which makes me think about the previous decades and what may be in store for the coming one.
My 30s was by far the most eventful decade I’ve had yet. It started with the birth of my daughter, 10 days before I turned 30, back in 2001. I was reading blogs back then and certainly exploring web technology. At that point, I was a Web Manager for corporates in New Zealand (I think I may’ve been in-between jobs on my birthday).
I started blogging in early 2002 and then ReadWriteWeb began on 20 April, 2003. Since then it’s been a rollarcoaster ride, as the business ramped up.
Also in my 30s I got married… then divorced.
I got diabetes type 1, in November 2007. The exact cause isn’t known, but undoutedly personal and business stresses were a big factor. It changed my life forever. Including in some good ways – I’m now slimmer and eat much healthier.
I’ve traveled more, especially in America. I made my first trip there in 2005 and have been back many times since. I love America and I’ve met many wonderful people there. In my 40s I plan to do much more travel, to other parts of the world. Europe and Asia both are largely unexplored for me as yet.
I bought a house in Petone this year. It’s a colorful house that makes me feel vibrant and creative. Petone is my home now.
During my 30s I really found myself. I was a late bloomer. These days I call myself a “fine wine,” meaning I get better as I get older :)
This past year has been the toughest of the past decade, with intense personal and business challenges. There are as many question marks in my life now as there were 10 years ago, but the difference is that there’s a strong core to me now. The experiences of the past decade have strengthened me and taught me a lot about myself – and life.
So today as I enter into my 5th decade on this planet, I know there is much to look forward to. Further personal and artistic growth, guiding my daughter as she goes through the challenging second decade (moving from child to adult), unfinished business with RWW, much travel to do, special friends, love (hopefully, as that’s something that can never be predicted), more and deeper writing, …
One can never tell what will happen in the future. In New Zealand over the past year, we’ve seen Mother Nature at her most destructive with the Christchurch earthquakes. Wellington, where I live, is on a faultline too. The other big unknown is health. Having gotten diabetes in 2007 and seen loved ones battle huge challenges like cancer, I know how fragile life can be.
But life is about constant exploration. I learned that in my 30s, whereas in my 20s I was largely hiding from life.
I’ve always believed in yin-yang, harmony… and melody! During my 30s, I brought those things out of myself and mixed them with the world. As a wonderful book I bought in Christchurch earlier this year, Every Day Tao (also quoted above), put it:
Belief is going into yourself and saying, “I am what I am.” Then you begin to find that abundance begins to flow around you.
For example, I discovered art a few years ago and now I’m having a ball exploring the work of great artists from the past and contemporary. It’s expanding my mind and giving an extra dimension to my life. I dabble in painting myself and perhaps I will do more in art over the coming decade. Who knows.
I’m looking forward to my 40s! Now here’s a Neil Young song, live from 1971, the year I was born:
Filed under: Personal
