Yes, on this day in 1989, I came into this world in my standard way - a month early and not quite able to function on my own. Thankfully, there have been some slight changes in the past 28 years. When I woke up this morning, I felt compelled to reflect on my age 28 year, in an attempt to reconcile a year where I felt lost most of the time, and to look at age 29 as a building block. So, some thoughts as I head, ever closer, to a nursing home.
Every year has its highs and lows, but for me this past year has been full of valleys with few peaks. That's not to say it was a bad year, but as the title of this post suggests, it was a lost year. There was so much more I wanted to do, accomplish, experience, and create, but I felt stuck most of the year. It's hard to believe that I was effectively running a baseball team on my birthday in 2017, and just a month later I would be laid off for the first time in my life - something that I still haven't been able to fix. Despite the freelancing, Uber driving, and job applications, my 28th year was yet another of unemployment - a pattern that I'd very much like to end in age 29. The thousands of applications, cover letter, interviews and more have yet to lead to a full-time offer after 11 months of effort and stress. It's not too much of a reach to say that I've been depressed for a while, and that my coping skills have not been up to the task on a daily basis, but I'm sure I'll find something eventually - looking forward is the job focus now.
Obviously, finding a job is currently my top life priority, and consumed much of the last year of my life, but with all that job hunting, rejection, and applying, I rediscovered other things I'm passionate about besides sports. I've spent countless hours watching YouTube and other streaming services and fell back in love with travel again. Watching flight reviews, airline documentaries, and news reignited a passion for long-haul airlines, and another potential career path - if I can't continue my career in sports, I'm thankful that the last year has shown me other options where I can work passionately. I've also learned so much about the world of streaming and e-sports - from watching streamers and their techniques, to playing and losing over 2000 Fortnite matches (not a joke), I've found a new interest.
My trip to London was without a doubt my personal highlight of year 28 (Sorry little sister - your wedding will have to be 1A). Taking my girlfriend to a city that means so much to me, and have her love it as much as I do was amazing, and having two great friends on the trip (Hi camp GF and Cord!) made it that much better. I have no doubt in my mind that London is my favourite city on Earth, and I can't wait to live there one day - for the first time in my life, there's a specific place I want to live. Of course I had to pick a place that's terribly difficult and expensive to live in and move to, but having that goal has been a huge boost headed towards the last year of my 20s.
Other highlights of the past 12 months? Visiting Robin Hood and staying at Oakland House. Driving to Florida from Chicago for the 5th time. Spending time with the lovely Brenna, and of course Peanut. That whole thing where my sister got married. My youngest sister starting at Deerfield last week and becoming an elite two-sport athlete.
There were lowlights too - funerals, financial struggles, and more. I could rehash them, but why? Let's just sum them up with a fitting conclusion to year 28: We're on to 29.
So what's to come this year? A job - hopefully sooner rather than later for the sake of my sanity, the sanity of those around me, and my poor, sad bank account. It's also time for me to pick myself up and get healthier - I was blessed with a great metabolism when I was younger, and didn't really adjust when it went away, so I should probably start exercising. I'm fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go on the trip of a lifetime in December - to BOTSWANA - with my family, which will be a definite high point of the next year.
Throughout this lost year, I've been supported by an amazing girlfriend, the best dog on the planet (not up for debate), a wonderful family, great friends, and a network around me that has tried to help at every turn. My goal is to pay that support back as soon as I can, as best as I can - whether it's personal or professional. I'm not sure what that even looks like, but I feel it as a responsibility - one way or another, it's my job to make a positive impact on the world around me with whatever means I have at my disposal. So, if you're in need of help, shoot me a message, and we'll take it from there.
28's over and it's for the best. 29 is here. Time to find my way.