Priorities

This week I turned 27 and I still feel like a kid trying to play the role of dad. That's especially true here in the Bay Area where men seem to put off having kids until they are in their late 30s or even 40s. That is crazy to me. It's exhausting trying to raise a toddler and I'm still young and lively. I'd hate to be in this same stage of life 20 years from now. I also think it's kind of rad being a kid with a kid. It keeps things fun.

Regardless of when you decide to pull the trigger, having a kid makes you grow up. Your life suddenly takes a huge shift as you realize that you aren't the center of the universe (shocking, I know). It changes you. I used to have this clearly articulated career path and a strong determination to make it happen. I pushed hard, worked late, and did everything I could to make my dreams become a reality. Now that Theo is getting older I'll admit that I'm slowly letting that all go. My new aspiration is to be a fun dad who is present. I want a strong balance in life between play and work. I want more time outdoors, more waves, more bike rides, and more slow hikes through the forest. I want more snack times, more lego spaceships, and far fewer meetings.

“I used to have this clearly articulated career path and a strong determination to make it happen...I’ll admit that I’m slowly letting that all go.”

I sat down with my manager at work a few weeks ago and discussed career goals. It was a strange realization during that discussion to see just how much my views have changed over the past two years. Yes, I want to be successful, and yes I'm super grateful for where I currently am with my career, but in the future I honestly want less time working, and more time out there exploring the world. Rather than climbing that illusive career ladder I'd rather step off the rungs entirely and go my own way. I don't really want what's at the top and I'm not in the mood to play the game to get there. As I tried to articulate what I saw for my future it wasn't a fancy creative director role or being a designer at a prestigious company, but rather more time at home with Theo and Sara. And more surfing. Always more surfing. 

“Rather than climbing that illusive ladder I’d rather just step off the rungs entirely and go my own way. I don’t really want what’s at the top and I’m not in the mood to play the game to get there.”

I think in the future I'd like to work from home. I tend to work more as a lone wolf anyways so give me my headphones, a laptop, and the hammock on our back patio and a I'll be far more productive than sitting in a noisy office. I'd much rather have family close and a life filled with adventures than any fortune or ego-boosting job. Life's too short to spend all of your time trying to get rich or polishing your resume. 

Anyways, enough with the introspective rant. For my birthday we kept things simple, just the way I like it. We walked out on the pier in Pacifica, watched the sunset, and ate Mexican food. I couldn't choose a better way to spend the evening with my favorite people. 

 

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