Celebrating My 20K Day

[A friend - let's call him Mr. 20K - graciously acceded to write the guest post below after a conversation about his unusual frame of reference piqued my curiosity. I hope you'll savor his thoughts and ruminations as much as I did.]

I was catching up on some Crispy Doc the other day and enjoyed a post on his recent birthday.  I mentioned to him that I, too, recently celebrated my birthday (which, like CD, is nearing the big five-oh).  Except – this year I decided instead to celebrate what I’ve dubbed 20k day.  After describing to him what 20k day is, he flattered me by asking if I’d like to write a guest post.

I’ve reached that stage of my life where I’ve started actively reflecting on where I’ve been and where I’d like to be going.  On who I am and who I’d like to be.  For most of my adult life I assumed my personality was pretty well set and established.  I am who I am.

Without going off on a whole nature v. nurture tangent -- I've come to realize in the last few years that I’m very much the product of my life experiences, my parent’s influence, my cultural surroundings and my peers.  Is change and evolution still possible?  I decided to go on a quest to find out.

I’d never been a particularly spiritual person, so I decided to take up a meditation practice and now have 700 sessions totaling 125 hours under my belt (according to the great app I use to guide me).

I’d never thought much about animal welfare or the environment, so I have adopted a plant-based diet.

I’d never had role models who communicated in an open or vulnerable way, so no shock that that hasn’t been a part of “my essence”.  My wife and I found a great therapist and we’ve learned to share our feelings and our needs in a healthy way.  And on and on.

I heard a saying once that sounded just plain wrong, but which I’ve come to realize is the path to change.  It’s easier to act your way into a new way of thinking than think your way into a new way of acting.  It actually works.  (I’ve also started acknowledging when I’m wrong – maybe my biggest breakthrough to date!)

Now I’ve seen that evolution is possible. That has made me encouraged and excited and optimistic about the future.  After some quick math, I estimated that I have twenty thousand more days to live (which will put my expiration date at 101 years, which for some will probably seem optimistic, for others pessimistic, and for most probably just morbid.  Everybody’s different -- as I annoyingly remind my kids multiple times a day!).

So this year instead of a traditional birthday, which by definition is focused on the past (i.e., there are now 47 years behind me), I celebrated my 20k Day.  This is a day to rejoice in everything I have in front of me.  A day to celebrate who I can be, rather than who I am or was.

The very idea of it seems kind of sappy.  Good.  So now I’m sappy too.

I plan to celebrate my 15k Day, my 10k Day, right on down to 1k Day and beyond.  I’ll do my best to remain grateful and excited about all the days still to come, and all the opportunities I have to keep becoming more of who I want to be.  And I will do my best not to dwell on the diminishing number of “K’s” – what’s the point of that?

So.  Wherever each of you are in your journeys, I wish you all many happy K-Days to come.