8760
526,200
31,557,600
The above numbers are the hours, minutes, and seconds in one year. As of today, I survived 604,440 hours, 33,307,800 minutes, and 2,177,474,400 seconds. The clock is still ticking. I am grateful for each hour, minute, and second. There are probably some who are disappointed that I am starting another orbit around the sun today instead of being worm food.
Life has been good, bad, and ugly. As a priest friend once said, life is messy. Looking back, the bad or ugly times were not as bad or ugly as I perceived them. They were just messy
I survived an almost thirty-year career as a Chicago Police Officer without being killed, seriously injured, fired, or going to prison. Being a Chicago Police Officer was the best job in the world. I retired almost fifteen years ago. I found new things to keep me occupied, including working part-time at a cultural institution for over five years.
So far, I have survived the COVID and Chicago violence pandemics. I take all necessary precautions to stay well and safe. I do not have to like living like this. I must do it. Self-survival is the first and highest law of nature. I try my best to survive.
I am fortunate to have friends and acquaintances from all walks of life. The number is not large, and I am good with that. My friends and acquaintances are people I enjoy spending time with, no matter how often or seldom I see or talk to them.
As I embark on another orbit around the sun, I seek new things to stay occupied and sometimes make a few bucks. I am looking to try or learn new things. Sometimes my curiosity gets the best of me, and I go down hours long rabbit holes.
I am not the same person I used to be. Life is about change, constant learning, and understanding. Books and schools are not the sole repositories for knowledge. Knowledge is never static. Learning is a lifelong process. Understanding is just as important as knowledge. Learning and understanding are evolutionary processes. When you think you know it all, you are wrong. You are stuck on stupid.
I do not tolerate anyone. Toleration is a lie. Adults tolerate unruly pets and impish children. I accept people for who they are. I treat people the way I want to be treated. The older I get, the more open-minded I become.
Every morning, if I open my eyes, I thank the Great Comedian for another day above ground. I get another chance to watch the sunrise and set. Another 24 hours on this spinning orb.
I live in the present. The past is gone, and the future is just tomorrow, another day. The only advice I can give is to live your life by making every day count. Do something, make something, create something, do things you enjoy, and spend time with the people you love.
No one makes it off this orb alive. I know one day my time will come. I will be near the top of the obit list since we apparently die in alphabetical order. I will have no regrets since I already rued my life’s omissions.
Life is short, no matter how long you live. Live, love, laugh, and eat the damn sandwich.
