The Calendar Is Finally Yours

Birthdays make us think about time—how much we have left, how much we’ve wasted, and where we should be by now. But this year, I’m looking at my life with joy, freedom, and gratitude. My calendar is finally my own.

Birthdays have a way of drawing us into reflection. We think about where we should be, how far we’ve come, and yes—even how close we are to the end. But this year, I’m not weighed down by those thoughts. I’m carrying joy in my heart.

My calendar is free.
I’m not tied down to a marriage, a career, or a system that drains my energy. I’m free to fill my days with purpose—on my terms.

I still want those things—a mind at peace, a fulfilling career, and if God wills, a wife. I believe a man is not meant to walk through life alone, though I’ve been hard on marriage in the past. That came from my own failures in communication and commitment, built on the shaky ground of a life I wasn’t truly living.

As for work, I’ve enjoyed parts of my past career, but it’s no longer part of the formula for my future. I’m ready for something that gives back to me as much as I give to it.

So what will I put on my calendar now? Growth.
Volunteering. Getting fit. Reading more books. Eating cleaner. Building into my community. Leading young men the way I once needed to be led. Riding more bikes. And maybe, one day, buying a Porsche—not for the flash, but for the personal victory it would represent.

I also know I need rules—proven ones—but I refuse to live inside systems that look healthy on the surface yet drain life from the inside. Too many addiction groups, churches, and “respected” institutions are built to keep people in cycles rather than free them.

Today, I turn a year older. And I can honestly say, I’m optimistic. I’m proud of my faith in Jesus. I’m proud of my children, my grandchildren, and my family. And I’m grateful—for every open space on my calendar and every new opportunity God will fill it with.

God bless us as we move forward. God bless our country and its leaders.

Quote:
❝Your time is your life. Choose carefully how you spend it, and with whom.❝— Alan Cohen