Tuesday, December 9, 2008

"Blackjack!!"

First off: I have to thank a butterfly somewhere for giving me an incredible birthday gift: As I'm writing this, it's snowing outside. Sure, it's not snowing much, and it's not sticking to the ground really, but I still have to hand it to those butterflies. :D

So, as of right now, I am 21 years old. Frankly, I'm not sure what to make of it. It's simultaneously overwhelming and underwhelming - on the one hand, this is pretty much the last major milestone in my life that I get for free. On the other hand, I know that tomorrow, I'm going to be basically the same person that I was yesterday. The biggest change I am expecting is the number of posts on my Facebook wall; so much for major life milestones.

To be honest, I feel like I've spent most of the past 21 years coasting; waiting for stuff to happen, and then reacting to it. It's a little worrying. When I look back at my life, I find myself wondering how much credit I can really take for it. I've spent far too much time on the path of least resistance. Therefore, from now on I'm going to try to take steps from time to time to get myself out of this rut.

Here is the second of those things. (The first was a little less than two weeks ago. Only two people that read this blog know about it, and I'm keeping it that way.) I will not be seeking an internship at a large company for summer '09. I don't know what I'm going to do instead. I have a couple ideas, but none of them are fleshed out enough to even mention here. This coming summer may not turn out to be especially lucrative, if I'm unsuccessful. But, regardless of how things end up, I know that whatever I do will be interesting. It will be worthwhile. It will be a chance to try something new.

I am going to make it the end of my life so far, and the beginning of the rest of my life. Take that, 21st birthday: that's what a milestone is supposed to look like.

4 comments:

Kiriska said...

Here's to hoping you have more things to do on your birthday than homework. (Find the time for a martini? Or at least a birthday shot of Baileys?)

I pretty much felt the same way as far as milestones/accomplishments/blah go, but that's something I wrestle with a lot in general. In any case, I think this blog is a good exercise in go-getting and you're keeping up well. Rock it, man.

(And believe in the you that believes in yourself?)

missmaya said...

that means our eurotrip is still on!
By the way.. Happy Birthday! Love you.

Anonymous said...

I'd be surprised if I pay much attention to my 21st birthday. Good luck with whatever you want to do. And remember, every day is the beginning of the rest of your life.

Plenty of milestones coming up: 30, 40, 50, that day when you reach half the life expectancy for US males, etc. Those are all free too. :)

Anonymous said...

I just got the blackjack thing... I feel smart.