36.

Somehow I managed to turn 36 years old today. It was completely unplanned; when I was 18 I was sure that I would never live this long (as most 18 year olds do). Oddly, at 36 I do not believe I'll make it to 72, and if I get there I will no doubt have doubts about making it to 144.

Half a life later, here I am. There is a profound feeling of 'How did this happen?'. One day you wake up and you're 36. Three dozen years old.

Where did those 18 years go? Those 36 years go? There was no wooshing sound as they flew by. I've been fortunate so far in being able to do a lot of cool things in my life, the least of which are 'professional'. I've met a lot of great people along the way, most of whom the average person would never have heard of - not the media hyped people, but the people in the trenches just making their world a little more livable. I've traveled quite a bit, staying away from the tourist depots as much as humanly possible because sanitized culture is no culture at all. In fact, I'm heading to Suriname next month after punishing myself through a bad choice of lawyer for my inheritance over the last 2 years.

Life, invariably, goes on. So for those of you who sent emails wishing me a happy birthday - thanks. Perhaps, if I do not get bored, I will make it to 48. Maybe 60. Maybe 72. Who knows? But what I learned long ago - when I was 18 - was that the years mean nothing, it is what one does with those years; it is the depth of living.

Life isn't about how many people know your name, it isn't about media mention, it isn't about how much money you make or what sort of car you drive. When you're truly alive, you know - the world resonates. The goal for every human being should be that their world resonates, that every small aspect is paid attention to and be a part of the greater whole. Life is about moments, snapshots where everything seems to make sense. In a world where things often do not seem to make sense, those moments are treasures. Sometimes you get to share those treasures, sometimes not.

Now, if you excuse me, I have to continue living and doing what I do. Whatever that is. :-)