Lucky number seven they say. I cannot believe that I have been here for seven years. The journey has not always been easy, with so many things in life happening all at once, it justifies to take a momentary breath.
So much has happened.
The biggest things happening this year was that I asked my girlfriend of two years to marry me. It happened much quicker than I anticipated, as I only planned to ask her parents (out of respect) for their daughter’s hand in marriage only by this time. If all went according to plan I would have asked her in January or February 2025. But life never goes according to the plans you draw. We cannot dictate life, we can merely follow her curves.
I also did not manage to find the elusive job Inwas searching for. It has been a turning point in my life, the decisions I make, and the way I move forward. Jobs in my country is not a sure thing, with many things contributing to making it increasingly difficult for younger people to find work. (One such fact was that they employed a retired professor for 10 years after he retired; why make it mandatory in the country and academia that lecturers should retire at the age of 65 when you ask them to stay on after that? Now, they are scrambling to appoint people and no one seems to fit the bill…)
But I am still here breathing increasingly more with ease, as life is becoming lighter again. I have achieved so much throughout this year; from publishing in the highest ranked philosophy journal in my country to having been asked to write a book chapter for an upcoming book project. I still have to submit my PhD but the thing is complete, there are only minor edits that need to be implemented. It has been a gruelling couple of years writing the study and I really hope to be finishing and defending it soon. What a day it will be when I successfully defended the PhD and they will call me “dr.”, I will look forward to that day, but there is still a lot of water needing run into that dam.
And on here, I have drunk so many beers, wrote so many poems yet again, sharing the model I call my fiancé, and achieving so many goals. I could not have done it without the help of so many people I cannot even begin to list. A community of likeminded people who support tremendous growth on so many levels. These seven years have been some of the most foundational to my world, as I can breathe here, share my ideas, and in doing so influencing my life even more.
Now, I am beginning to write new chapters, new twists and turns, new stories that have yet to develop characters. On my side I have my soulmate walking this journey with me, the open possibility of so many things, and the desire to change the world even if it is only by planting one simple mustard seed that can grow into a plant that produces more seeds. Change comes from one small step.
Each year when I write this birthday post, I look back and forward, inward and outward. We write so much, trying to capture the fleeting moment of reality, the present that always seems to want to run away, and the myriad of opportunities that unfold in their unthinkable ways. And we can only say thank you and be appreciative of what has happened, what will come, and how we will reap and harvest the rich soils that lay in front of us.
Alas, we can only smile, be grateful, and thank everyone that crosses our paths, to try and bless them, and make this world a better place.
Happy writing, and keep well.
All of the musings and writings are my own, albeit inspired by the reminder of my Hive Birthday. The photographs are also my own, taken from various posts throughout the year.
Congratulations on your Hive-birthday ;)
Thank you so much! Cannot believe it has been 7 years.
Wooohhhoooooo 🥳🥳 CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU!!!
7 years, that’s awesome.
To many more years on HIVE
!PIZZA
Cheers to that! Thank you so much, and for you as well.
Thanks a lot 😊 you are very welcome!
The 8th of December I celebrate 3 years….. 🥳 almost… hehehe
!LUV
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7 years make you an OG here! Happy Hiveversary! Crossing fingers for you to keep up the momentum in all those cool things happening. Cheers, and here's another !BEER
Thank you so much! I have never really seen myself like that, but I guess it is true! So glad to be a part of this amazing journey. Cheers!
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Congratulations to your Hive birthday and good luck in fulfilling your hopes.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!
Happy Hiversary! It's been really amazing reading from you. I know, I might not leave a comment more than I should but you're one of the OG here and I find your writings truly valuable, oh and those book reviews too!
Here's to many more years on Hive 😊
Oh thank you so much! Coming from you, also another OG, it really means a lot to me. I appreciate it. And same, I always try my best to leave as many thoughtful comments as I can, and to read what others are writing, but it gets a lot very quickly, especially with more people coming to Hive.
Thanks so much, and to you as well!
Beautifully written. I'm glad life is going well. You sound content, mostly, which is hard to achieve.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it. I am in a strange limbo, in which I am kind of content. I am finishing my already finished PhD, and I am slowly realising that there are few if any job openings in my field (which is obviously not a good thing), but this opens my world a bit, in which I am pressured to do XYZ. This is thanks to generous family members that also believe in what my PhD is trying to do.
Thank goodness for supportive family members. I guess you absolutely arent the only one to find your degree doesn't outright get a job from their degree, but I'm sure it's given you a massive skill set that makes you employment material - someone will recognize that.
For sure, if I did not have my family, I would not have been able to do the PhD and try and do what I want to. And I really hope so, as finding work in my field is not so much about applying for work than "creating" the field I want to work in. There are some opportunities, but they rely on my PhD, which I need to finish now.
Wow! So now you join us at the 7 years club. Welcome and congrats.
!BEER
Thank you so much! Bit behind yours, but only by small margins haha.
Pleasure and you just keep on going my friend. Remember that nothing with God is impossible.
!BEER
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Congratulations on being here for 7 years! But most of all for your recent engagement, woohoo! May you both share a wonderful life together.
Loved this! (Alas, we can only smile, be grateful, and thank everyone that crosses our paths, to try and bless them, and make this world a better place.)
Thank you so much for your kind words! I really appreciate it. Thanks again, and happy baking and gardening as well!