Random Reflections

the other day, i got an email from a friend saying she is moving to the east coast to accept a job because she’s "finally figured out what she wants to do with her life". my immediate response was "more power to you" because it’s an admirable feat for someone to be that aware of their being and recognize what they want and actually go and do it. but i don’t know is if that’s a predicament most of us ever wrestle with; if i ever did, i don’t remember now.

it could be because of my upbringing, or maybe even the fact that we didn’t have much growing up, where the options tended to lead towards the practical. i didn’t really have any life plans per se--i knew i was going to college and hopefully graduate with practical and marketable skill (civil engineering in my case). but as far as i can tell, life just happened. went to college, met a girl, graduated, got a job, wedding bells tolled, and four beautiful kids later, here i am blogging. truth be told, i don’t have much time to reflect on life because i’m too busy living it--good and bad, but mostly good. sure i have regrets about things i wanted to do and didn't or haven't yet--join the marines, which, at this point in my life, is all but too late (would they have accepted me with my flat feet, i don’t know); be a traveller (and learn how the other half lives); work for an global firm mainly for the occasional ego trip; a cia spy; but most importantly, for more time: with my family; to ride, run, and train; to volunteer abroad where my engineering skills can save lives instead of dealing with the bureaucratic bullshit for projects that really, in the whole scheme of things, are insignificant compared to the plight for clean water in some impoverished locale halfway around the world.

overall, i truly believe that i have been blessed with more than i deserve: a beautiful wife who’s my best friend, the priceless sound of my kids’ laughter, living in quite possibly the most beautiful place on earth (monterey bay), the unconditional love and support of my extended family and friends, and lastly, a gratifying job that supports a relatively comfortable lifestyle.

that said, i’ll end this entry with a qoute from lucius annaeus seneca, "life, if well lived, is long enough". maybe someday, i will be able to look back and really put things in perspective.