Birthday Wishes, Caviar Dreams
As I lace up my shoes for my pre-dawn walk, something I do every morning before the world wakes up, today's familiar route feels special. Maybe it's the birthday reflections or just the way these milestone moments make us slow down and appreciate life's wild turns.
I think they serve as natural checkpoints, inviting us to look back at the path we've travelled and forward to the road not yet taken. And what a path this year has been! If someone had told me on my last birthday that I'd be sitting here having travelled around the world with my family, written a book about our adventures, and preparing for an upcoming speaking competition (stay tuned for more!) I would have smiled politely while internally questioning their grip on reality.
Yet here we are.
Our family journey, chronicled in my recently published book "Around the World in Family Days," has become more than just a travel tale - it's evolved into a testament to the power of pausing. The response has been nothing short of extraordinary, from our feature in the Toronto Star to heartfelt conversations on podcasts. I'm particularly grateful to Erin from The Fulfillment Equation and Charles & Diane from Love Drops for providing platforms to share our story. These conversations, though I'm still learning to master the art of concise storytelling (practice makes perfect!), have helped me understand our journey in new ways.
What fascinates me most is how this experience has shifted something fundamental within me. It's as if the act of stepping away from our comfortable life temporarily has permanently altered my perspective on what's possible. The boundaries I once accepted as fixed have proven to be remarkably flexible, and the limitations I had placed on myself seem almost laughable now. It's not that the challenges have disappeared - they're very much present, if not more so - but my perspective on them has changed.
Watching our children process this journey has been perhaps the most profound part. They've witnessed their parents not just talking about dreams but actively pursuing them. They've seen the late nights of writing, the moments of doubt, the excitement of opportunities, and yes, the frustrations of setbacks. But more importantly, they've observed resilience in action. They've learned that success isn't a straight line but rather a series of attempts, adjustments, and persistent steps forward.
The speed at which things have unfolded continues to amaze me. While I had resigned myself to this being a long, gradual journey - and in many ways, it still is - the immediate traction has been unexpected and humbling. Each opportunity, whether it's a podcast interview, a potential speaking engagement, or a newspaper article, feels like both a gift and a responsibility. A responsibility to share our story authentically, to inspire others who might be standing where we once stood, hesitating at the edge of their comfort zone.
As I look toward the coming year, I feel a mix of excitement and certainty. Not certainty about what will happen - this year has taught me that predictions are futile - but certainty that whatever comes, I'm ready to embrace it with open arms. The willingness to share our story, though sometimes uncomfortable, has connected us with so many incredible opportunities and people - particularly people who I have not crossed paths with in decades!
This birthday feels different from all others. It's not just about marking another year passed, but celebrating a profound shift in my perspective. It's about acknowledging that at any age, we can surprise ourselves, push beyond our self-imposed limits, and discover new capabilities we never knew we possessed.
And the most thrilling part? This feels like just the beginning. There's a world of possibilities ahead, stories yet to be told, and impacts yet to be made. I'm just getting started, and for perhaps the first time in my life, that thought fills me with pure excitement.
