I turned a certain age today. While I have been happy or at least ok with turning most ages, this one has been challenging. Perhaps because it has greater significance than most birthdays, in terms of how your life changes. Perhaps because it nails home the fact that I am old, regardless of how I might try and turn a blind eye to that or couch it with modifiers.
Like all my birthdays, I am taking the day off. Indeed, thanks to L, I took an especially long weekend and went to Montreal for a great visit. Tomorrow I will start the new year. But how to start into such a year?
I think I am going to enter this new age by constantly asking the question: does this enlarge me or diminish me? So, do that exercise, practice that skill, maintain what is important do you while giving up on activities that take away your time, your resources, your joy. Whatever helps my life expand — in a good way — will be the path I will head towards, as best as I can.
P.S. I first came across this advice from this post by Austin Kleon, who took it from a larger list of wise ideas from Oliver Burkeman.
Smart People I Know 