From Vegas to Reno to DC to Nashville to DC to Chicago to DC to NOLA to DC to Vegas to DC to Chicago to DC to Vegas to Manila, Philippines to Iloilo, Philippines to Manila Philippines to Hong Kong to Manila,Philippines to Vegas to DC then now back to Vegas
I've ridden 21 planes this year, not counting transfers-21 different flights. That's almost a set of roundtrips per month.
I've always prided in myself for being one of the easiest people to put on a plane. I'm always ready to see a new place, to jump on a new adventure. However, on the year that seems to be the year I'm riding planes a lot, I don't feel like I ever landed on a destination. It still feels like I'm still on that plane.
2016 was a lull period of my life. Not a bad lull but a lull. It was fairly calm and complacent lull. Nothing too exciting or boring yet full of anticipation. This is the same exact feeling you get when you're on a plane before a vacation. You're at the edge of your seat and yet you know you can't do anything until it lands. It's like an in between of some sort, a necessary transition.
Things were still happening around me. I went to two graduations, two weddings, a baby shower, birthday parties, saw new babies, participated in the election, woke up to the outcome of the election, dated, ended things, felt in touch with the Holy Spirit, reconnected with my faith, reflected on life, congratulated people who got engaged, started a new job, saw people leave my old firm and my new one, wished people well as they moved away, welcomed people as they moved back and so on.
See, the reason I'm so easy to get on a plane is because I felt like it was a "necessary evil". It was necessary so that I can get myself to a new adventure, to see new things and just experience. There's nothing more exhilarating than the anticipation before the unexpected, the knowing that whatever it is will somehow be a moment that'll create a memory that's yours.
While 2015 felt was a year of living, 2016 was a year of staying still. I thought staying still was 2015 but looking back, 2016 was actually that year. In spite of all the planes and the new things, I lived 2016 with a new found courage and certainty that I found within myself in 2015. It was the first year that I lived my life the way I grew up last year. So, in a way, this was the lull period. No internal struggles, no major moves, just adjusting to my new found understanding of self.
I'm not entirely certain of what I want in 2017. To be honest, lately, I'm not sure of what my five year goal is anymore. I think age changes what's important to you and lately my focal points haven't been what they used to be.
So I guess this is what it means to be selfish in your 20s. Now that I'm more secure of a lot more things about my persona, it's easier to shift energies. I don't feel the whole "fomo" anymore. It's not about what I need to do. It's now about what I want.
I'm going into 2017 still without a set 5 year plan. I'm not really certain of everything I want out of life anymore but the past few years leading up to this year gave me what I needed. As a good friend told me, just take it day by day and that's okay.
2016 is the first year that I've reconciled to the fact that I've done all I believe I needed to do the past few years and that I have nothing else to prove to anyone. I've fully accepted that it's okay. No one is going to scorn me for wanting things for myself.
As I end this reflection over a cup of coffee here in Las Vegas 6 days later, I can't help but feel the possibilities ahead. I'm ready for this new coming year.
So 2017, you and I are going to explore this new found frontier with a new found purpose. We're going to figure out what we want out of life. It's not going to be easy but it's okay to not have a plan. I have to take it like I do traveling. As long as I have the basic things I need, I can explore and get lost. Let me push and get lost in you 2017. It's going to be a year of finding and discovering. It's going to be great.
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