Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.
~ Rumi
It’s my husband Dave’s 60th birthday.
This milestone celebration will be a little more exclusive than his previous decades birthdays. While we will not be celebrating in a large gathering, I did invite friends and family to submit a short video.
Most people only have a Celebration of Life at their funeral. Fortunately, Dave will be lavished with heartfelt good wishes and fond memories today.
As video clips rolled in, revelations occurred, eulogy virtues were shared, reminding me why I fell in love with him 33 years ago. Sometimes we forget.
After a series of injuries cut Dave’s professional football career short, he added résumé skills and used what he learned in What Colour is Your Parachute to get into TD’s trading room. Once he decided that that was where he’d like to be, he did whatever it took to get there. He even volunteered to bring his own personal computer because they did not yet have one.
It was at TD that I met Dave. His nickname was Woody. He was an idealist. Even then, he was reading and listening to Wayne Dyer, Tony Robbins and Leo Buscaglia. Although he flourished trading and selling leading edge capital markets products, Bay Street did not completely resonate with his core values. He wanted to make a difference. So twenty years later, he became a teacher - and he has.
Based on my search history on the internet, algorithms occasionally prompt me to watch Sadhguru videos. As I pondered how best to commemorate Dave’s milestone birthday, I came across one that suggested that there are times in life when we experience a different level of propulsion. If we have prepared ourselves well, we can experience explosive success and well-being.
According to Sadhguru, 60 is a time of tremendous possibility. If we add the right tools to our toolbox and fuel our body optimally, we can take off effortlessly.
Rituals help. Married couples are encouraged to renew their vows. Doing so is a sign that the marriage is not a trap or bondage. It becomes a possibility.
In some ways Dave and I have become closer as we age. We both value family above all else and recognize that we challenge each other to become better versions of ourselves.
A stage 4 cancer diagnosis in 2019 had friends and family believing that Dave’s life might be cut short. It was a wake up call that changed the trajectory of our lives. Much has changed. We have become more resilient.
Thankfully, today Dave is cancer-free. He hurts less. His fuel tank is full. There is no doubt in my mind that the best is yet to come. I am excited about our next chapter.
If there is light in the soul,
There will be beauty in the person.
If there is beauty in the person,
There will be harmony in the house.
If there is harmony in the house,
There will be order in the nation.
If there is order in the nation,
There will be peace in the world.
~ Chinese proverb
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