Mellow Milestones

The last few years and my late twenties have
sped past me at a very rapid rate. The speed was worrying but the fact that it
wasn’t measurable was terrifying. Granted there was a major milestone in the
form of my gorgeous Lotus Elise and few other road trips, vacations as bread
crumbs, but until last year, I was struggling to quantify a life well lived.

The year of 2012 was not a slow one either. Yet, I had slowed down and in that
physical dynamic alteration I was able to measure this year as best as any. The
Lotus was gone but in place came countless other material filler. As I look
past on the first year in my third land, there is strangely no feeling of panic
of a time gone astray by but rather a tingling for what lies ahead.

The start was rough, as is the case, with any change. Within a new language
thrown in the mix, the change proved overwhelming at start. Eventually though, I settled
into a nice groove there. It began with a white BMW who played a role of my
silent stalwart. New pin codes brought with them new people and their mental
mindscapes. I had magical restful vacations, ones that involved slowing down
and not doing anything in general, no matter how exotic the place. My eyes absorbed
the glorious Alps, the dense forests, the blue lakes and 800 yr old structures. My new commute allowed me high speed
runs on the autobahns each day. On foot I ran through castles in my back yard. I know all the aisles in the local supermarket store. I look forward to
my Saturday morning walk to the farmers market to pick up
the odd fresh produce. My cheese had moved but I was able to find it within a year. Amsterdam,
notwithstanding!
Among the many firsts, I jumped off a ledge into a ravine 220m deep, strung
only by a rope. It was the scariest thing I ever did in a long time.

These are what I call Facebook  mile-markers. These can be marked with date
and time stamps. But there are the mellow mile markers that have made a
stronger impact this past year. 2012 was instrumental in kick starting an
attitude change that was a long time due. No longer am I so hard on myself for
being average or mediocre. The target for greatness hasn’t changed but it isn’t
burdened with a timeline or a punishing cane. There is accumulation of patience
and grit. There is acceptance of plan modifications. And there is sense of gratitude
for a life already quite well lived, including the painful quarter life years.

I am also not sure if it was the delicious
beer or the 15 minute walks between the train station and my apartment, but
this past year allowed for honest introspection without the taunts. Not only do
I have a better understanding of what I like but I also am beginning to
understand why I like the things I do.  I
am re investigating all my premonitions and re attempting learning without biases.
While there is no denying that my old body gained another year, I felt that my mind was younger, fresher and lighter.

After a wonderful vacation in my first land, I return to the country of Black, Red
and Gold for my second year. This year too, I will attempt to highlight the
mellow markers. I will try finding new corners in the same square soul of
mine. Travel more to learn and to eat. And to mould a future that will prove to be
the culmination of the years spent counting, reviewing and living a life, well
lived.