Older

I turned a year older today. Not that it matters a lot. I mean, I stopped counting when I hit my 30s, so it won’t be until the big 4-0 that it’ll be a milestone worth celebrating.

But considering it’s the first birthday since I moved to Canada, I figured that in itself is a milestone.

I view birthdays mostly in the context of what I’ve accomplished in the year that was. It became a measure of whether I’ve done anything worthwhile each year that I grew older.

The hand that holds the pen writes history. The timing of this tagline from the film ‘Colette’ (soon available on Netflix) that passed by my social media feed was uncanny.

The thought gave me pause for many reasons.

One, I’ve always aspired to pen the kind of writing that lives on forever through the minds and hearts of the people touched by it. I haven’t attained the results of such efforts yet, but the intention remains.

Second, I wanted to live a life that is worth remembering. To do so, I have to create the kind of experiences that warrant it. To have a hand in designing such a remarkable life, one that’s for the books. My own, not the world’s. The latter would be too lofty, even for me.

Moving to Canada was a monumental step towards that. I’ve lived a fairly good life before this, but that chapter has ended. I’m currently writing the next one. What an adventure it’s been, more so with positively surprising outcomes.

For one, I finally landed a job that involves meaningful work. Not only does it utilize the skills that I’ve accumulated in my corporate career but it also expands my network for other opportunities in the near future. 

The work is community-centered, the core of which is the Lord’s ministry and aiding those in need. It was a far cry from the decade of toxicity that I put up with as I gradually progressed up the corporate ladder.

Second, I’m undergoing academic upgrading in the international sphere. Once I’ve finished the program, it’ll significantly boost my professional credentials. It is a competitive advantage that my home country cannot surpass, largely due to differences in the level of the education system in a first-world country versus a developing one.

The coursework in all the classes was rich in relevant content and quite practical, I look forward to learning it weekly.

Third, I’m living through the extraordinary experiences that years ago I only wondered about. Moving halfway across the world when I’ve never travelled anywhere other than my tiny country before. Living in a place with an internationally diverse and multicultural population. Understanding the nuances of a new country physically, socially, and economically.

Fourth, I’m able to share these same experiences with my son while he’s still in his formative years. I’m giving him a bigger view of the world that’s his to explore so long as he puts his mind to it.

Each new day brings in a bit of adventure, in various shapes and form. It requires an immense amount of courage and willpower to undertake them, as well as the preparation necessary to come to this point.

Was it worth it, you ask? 

In the words of Benjamin Franklin, either you ‘write something worth reading, or you do something worth writing (about).”

This is definitely the latter.