Two Perspectives on 40 Years

Two Perspectives on 40 years

One:

I have risked everything, lost everything.

I’ve been married twice.

I’ve been 200,000 dollars in debt and borrowed money from my parents.

I’ve broken promises.

I’ve stayed in a terrible relationship for years.

I’ve failed to reach countless goals.

I’ve lost friends, been a terrible friend.

I’ve overtrained.

I’ve taken my family for granted and lost all of my grandparents.

I‘ve quit a stable, high paying professorship for a temporary fellowship, twice.

I’ve spent thousands of hours outside without sunscreen.

I’ve trained 6 years for one endurance event that I’ve never finished.

I’ve intended to write a book for years, yet I’ve never started.

I don’t own a house.

I have no children.

I have multiple jobs, yet only made $8,000 last year.

I’ve wondered if life would ever be easy.

I see my husband half the year.

Two:

I have gained everything.

I’m married to a man of the world; a tender-hearted warrior.

I’m debt free.

I owe my parents everything, but not money.

I keep all of the promises I make.

I walked away from a relationship in which I had lost myself.

I have chased impossible goals, and reached unimaginable heights.

I have amazing friends all over the world and know how to be a good friend.

I train smart, push beyond my limits, but know when it is time for yoga.

I love my family for who they are, and care about them deeply.

I had remarkable grandparents who were part of the landscape of American history.

I chose service over a career. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in China and Micronesia, a US Forest Service Fire Fighter, then a US State Department Fellow in Afghanistan and Jordan.

I spend most of my free time outside, running, climbing, hiking, skiing, swimming, camping, and playing.

I am healthy and fit enough to do the toughest endurance races in the world, multiple times.

I write because it makes me whole and have published articles with the New York Times, CrossFit, GORUCK, and many other organizations.

I live fluidly and freely because I don’t own a house.

I have two step children, one nephew, and four nieces who are intelligent, artistic, loving, athletic little humans. I have hundreds of kids, because I am a teacher and a coach.

I work for multiple organizations that I believe in and advocate for, and who also support my dreams.

I am fortunate that life isn’t easy.

I have a husband who gives 100% in all that he does, including loving me just as I am.

There is so much life left. Living the next 60+ years with the second perspective is what I intend to do. I will make the most of the opportunities I am offered, the challenges I may face, so that I can have a positive impact on this world. On my birthday, my heart rests easy knowing that I’ve lived life vulnerably and honestly.