Newsletter #20: I'm 52, now what?
My standard, annual reflection of another year on this Earth.
In three years, I will be retired. Semi-retired, maybe. What’s special about this year? A lot, and some. New friends, old friends. New work colleagues, old colleagues. Newborn babies, aging parents. Life and death. New places, old places. New skills, old skills. New adventures, old adventures. The year went by fast. Even Facebook forgot it was my birthday.
To help put context on the importance of this day, I asked ChatGPT, “What is so special about this day in history?” Here are some facts that you may not have known:
It’s Jose Rizal’s birthday. Yes, I didn’t end up being called Jose or Rizal. However, I will never forget one of my favorite haircuts from elementary school. It’s called “Rizal cut.” It’s tidy, but not too short. The barbers also referred to this as a “clean cut,” which was a comparison to the military cut, which I disliked back then because I liked growing my hair long.
Manila becomes a city. In 1861, on the same day Rizal was born, Manila, where I now live, was declared a city under a Royal Decree by Queen Isabel II of Spain. That’s a cool tidbit.
Battle of the Philippine Sea. In 1944, the US battled Japan, and it was on this day that the US Navy declared victory over Japan. This battle is a pivotal part of the Philippines’ World War II history.
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” —Mark Twain.
I posted that short quote from Mark Twain on March 24, 2024, on Instagram. I don’t recall what triggered my sharing. However, it points to one of the many existential questions we face in life: Why are we here? What’s my purpose in life? Why have we been given this life?
Many have pondered this question. One of my work colleagues recently shared three things that he considers essential: Faith, Family, and Firearms (?!) The last one was a joke. Half-meant.
Among philosophers, the following are considered the most important aspects of life: truth and wisdom; virtue and goodness; and love, relationships, and connection. Among Christians, it’s faith, love, and service to others.
I also remember Viktor Frankl, a holocaust survivor turned psychiatrist, saying that “life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.” Man’s search for meaning is about discovering it through actions, relationships, and choices—the last one is a God-given gift, the freedom to choose our attitude, behavior, and how we respond to life. And there is love. Love allows us to see the full potential of another person before they see it in themselves. Love is also about forming meaningful connections and relationships with others.
So what are those three essential things in my life?
God. Ecclesiastes 12:13 states: “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” This is the very fundamental purpose of our lives. To live in HIS reverence and to follow HIS will.
Love. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt 22:39). Like Frankl and the philosophers, love makes life fulfilling and human. As the Beatles have said, “Love is all we need.” Love and connection. This is what makes us human. When we love, we also serve others. Love is about relationships and community. Aristotle said that “man is by nature a social animal.” We thrive when we connect with others. Love of family, friends, and your partners — this is what makes life rich and meaningful. Another scriptural text that I love: God is Love.
Doing Good. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:10). We are here on Earth with another purpose: to let our lives reflect goodness and grace through actions. According to Aristotle, doing good leads to happiness. He believed that a good life is one lived in virtue (goodness), like courage, honesty, and compassion. Immanuel Kant added that “doing what’s morally right” should be one of our purposes, “no matter what the cost.” TL;DR: Doing good is not just about being good; it’s about becoming better for yourself and others.
Now, for the unserious part.
Fifty-two! That rolls gently in the mouth when you say it. They say age is not a number. It’s a feeling — and the wisdom that comes with it. What have I learned this year?
Getting enough sleep dictates how your day will go. I’m cranky if I don’t get enough sleep. For me, that’s around six to eight hours. I sleep earlier now that I’m 52. My eyes get heavier when the clock strikes 10 P.M. My wife tells me that sleeping is one of my superpowers. When I want to sleep, I fall asleep in minutes. I've stopped — or at least reduced — doomscrolling on my phone. Sleep is one of the most affordable longevity tools we have against illnesses and other severe medical conditions.
Take a walk if you can. I can’t jog or run that much anymore. My feet hurt, or to be accurate, my knees are finally giving up on me. This was after years of doing heavy lifting. Now, I hear my right knees crack whenever I stretch and wake up. Walking is now the closest I can get to “running.” It’s free. It’s doable. It doesn’t need that much effort. You just need to plot a destination. And, of course, get some colleagues and friends to walk (and perhaps talk) with you.
Don’t stop reading. I've been listening to audiobooks lately. Blame the daily traffic in Metro Manila. Instead of listening to a podcast, I began listening to so-called “Graphic Audio” or dramatized versions of popular fiction, such as one authored by Rebecca Yarros. I also purchased audiobooks of classic books, including 1984, Stoner, This Boy’s Life, Hard Rain Falling, Fahrenheit 451, Breakfast of Champions, and To Kill a Mockingbird, among others. Why the classics? I believe the classics are best listened to, and I do have trouble pronouncing some of the names. In some audiobooks, you can even hear the narrators adjusting their accents to portray characters. Try it!
That’s it! My reflections at 52! Hope you picked up a thing or two.