Happy Birthday To Me

I'm 42 today.  Yay me!  As I wrote in March, 42 is "too young to feel truly old, but old enough to no longer feel young."  Forty was just a number--I really didn't feel much different as a result.  But 41 was a quite a bit heavier because Amy and I lost several family members that year, and that process has continued this year, leading to thoughts about mortality while laid up or caring for Amy after surgery.

Andy Chan, the former Director of Stanford's Career Management Center, once provided me with a great framework for thinking about where we are in a given journey or experience by asking, "Are you in the first half or the second half?"  And it's safe to assume that I'm in the second half of this existence.  (Although hopefully it's still the third quarter.)

As a result of my reflections over the past few months, I'm comfortable with this.  Being sick and helping Amy recover made me realize how little I know about aging and infirmity, but, paradoxically, learning how unprepared I truly am has helped me prepare.  Funny how growing old (up?) works that way.

So a sense of my mortality doesn't leave me feeling gloomy--but it does cause me to take stock, to look around and assess where I am and what I'm doing.  And last night I wrote to a friend that "I've been feeling down lately, wondering whether I'm making enough of a difference, feeling a little frustrated and envious as I get glimpses down other paths."

This is largely a result of the absence of our students over the Summer, those from the Class of 2009, who have graduated and left the GSB behind, and those from the Class of 2010, who are in the midst of their internships all over the world.  I have more time to see private coaching clients when classes aren't in session, but on balance I spend less time coaching and more time on administrative work and other projects at Stanford over the Summer.  Coaching is my vocation, it sustains and feeds me--but the rest is just stuff that needs to get done.  It's not drudgery, but it's not my passion, either.

So knowing that expressing gratitude is one of the keys to my happiness, I've been reflecting on what I'm grateful for, what I appreciate--which is to say who I'm grateful for, who I appreciate:

• Amy, first and always.  I'm so grateful for the chance that brought us together and all the hard work we've put in over the last 23 years to stay together.  More than anything else, my love for you and your love for me give my life meaning and purpose.
• My Mom and Dad.  In some ways I was a really easy kid to raise; in other ways I know I was unbelievably difficult.  Thank you for putting up with me through the difficulties.  I don't tell you enough how much I love and appreciate you.
• My brothers David and Matthew.  See above--in some ways I think I've been a pretty good older brother; in other ways I know I could do better.  Time with you is one of the rarest treasures in my life, and I wish there was more of it.
• My friends.  The friend I mentioned above emailed me just to say how much she was appreciating my writing here, which was incredibly powerful and uplifting to hear.  I have a lot of people in my life like that, and I am truly lucky to call you my friends.
• My clients and students.  Second only to my marriage, my work with you fulfills me and gives me a purpose in life.  I'm deeply grateful for every opportunity to talk with you, to share your challenges and your joys, to be a part of your journey.  Thank you.
• All the little moments that remind me what a privilege it is to be here, like the one captured above, atop Drake's Head in Point Reyes with Amy in June.  Lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky.  That's me.

Comments

[John Lang]

Happy Birthday Ed! You're not old. Last year when I turned 55 I was asked shortly thereafter at a fast-food restaurant if I wanted my senior discount! Funny, I don't feel like a senior.
John

[KC Chan-Herur]

Happy Birthday, Ed!

Your thoughtful birthday reflections resonated with me. Enjoy your second half! Given your first half and those you have around you, it will be a fascinating one.

KC Chan-Herur
Twitter: @kcInnovation
www.InnovationPassion.com
P.S. Thanks to Pam Fox Rollin who introduced me to your work through Twitter.

[Zoe Dunning]

Happy Birthday, Ed!!!! May I face my annual reminders of mortality with as much gratitude and aplomb as you. - Zoe

[Ed Batista]

Thanks, all! It's been a rewarding day, and reading these comments is a very nice way to end it. See you next year :-)

[Janna Rust]

Happy Birthday! I stumbled here from a google search an saw it was your birthday yesterday. I turned 42 this year as well. So far, I like the 40's...its is truly the start of the second half!

[Ed Batista]

Thanks, Janna! Glad to hear that 42's been good so far :-)

[Andy Chan]

Dear Ed - Happy Birthday!! Being a blessing to others is the greatest gift one can leave to the world. Because of your warm, sincere and compassionate spirit, the world is a better place. You make a real difference in the lives of many people.

One word of caution... You expressed envy as you glimpsed down the paths of others. Envy is a dangerous poison. From the outside, other paths can appear so much better than our own. But we know deep inside that there is no such thing as the easier, better path. Everyone has issues and demons to deal with - we rarely know about them.

Embrace your personal journey. You are living a wonderful life.

Blessings,
Andy

[Ed Batista]

Thanks, Andy. I have so much respect for the contributions *you* make that this means a great deal to me.

And I fully agree that envy's a dangerous poison. Admitting my envious feelings helps me manage and overcome them, a process that involves both increased appreciation for my own experience and a heightened awareness of the complexity of others' experiences.

But denying my envy can have the effect of bottling it up and leaving it "unprocessed" (and more potent.)

In the context of this post, my envy was related to a sense that I'm not making the best, fullest use of my talents, a feeling that's heightened during the Summer, when I'm doing less coaching.

[Radhika K R]

hi i am new to this blog, i am from India the land of diversed culture . i am new to teaching world and has been a lecturer in MBA dept in one of the prominent colleges of India, Happy birthday Ed, do not feel u r old , its only the way we think makes us old. please read the book " The monk who sold the Ferrai" bye email me at address given.

[Ed Batista]

Thanks for the encouragement, Radhika. I'll look into the book you mention. Good luck with your teaching!