Ahhhhhh, 55, a number rich in cultural significance and personal symbolism, made even more iconic by the anthemic pulse of Sammy Hagar’s song "I Can’t Drive 55."
Now, those were some iconic lyrics...
"When I drive that slow, you know it's hard to steer"
"And I can't get my car out of second gear"
"What used to take two hours now takes all day"
"Huh, it took me 16 hours to get to L.A."
Today, January 18, 2025, is my 55th birthday.
As I hit this milestone, please allow me to entwine Sammy's rebellious energy with what I've come to learn is my own deep philosophical resonance as I turn 55.
Midlife? Naaaah!!
To me, this feels like both a midpoint and a peak. I do get why some might see it as "over the hill," but I know better. For me, this feels like the crest of a hill with a panoramic view. From this vantagepoint, I am finally able to see not only where I've been but also the expansive horizon still before me.
The number 55 itself is a palindrome, a mirrored pair that invites reflection. At this stage of my life, it feels like I am at the culmination of everything I’ve been and the seed of what I will yet become. This feels to me like an age that is designed to radiate balance! There is the wisdom of experience counterbalanced by the curiosity that still drives me forward.
I am, after all, a lifelong student!
So, like Hagar speeding down the highway, I understand that life is not about the destination but about the exhilarating ride.
To a certain degree, every age is both a milestone and a starting line and while society might impose speed limits, my inner voice, echoing Hagar’s guttural cry, reminds me that life is meant to be lived at full throttle.
I've always seen birthdays as an ode to potential. The candles on the cake are more than decorative, they symbolize wishes, dreams, and the hope of what is yet to come. In a sense, the act of blowing out candles is a ritual of renewal, a way of breathing life into future aspirations. It reminds me that the journey is ongoing, and the chapters of our story remain unwritten.
The older (and wiser) I've become, the more I realize that we celebrate birthdays because they remind us of the sacredness of life itself. When I hear (ahem) 'old' people say, "Good Lord, don't go out of your way, it's just a number," I say NO! No, it is not.
It is a celebration of the sacredness of this person's life.
Sadhguru tells us that the most magical miracle of every day is that you are alive. Think about his perspective and let's now take one, just one human being's life and draw our focus to it for a moment.
Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879, and he passed away on April 18, 1955.
This was his life chapter on earth. This was his time. 76 magical, powerful years!
I'm no Einstein
In a universe that often feels vast and indifferent, and in this ever-changing world of ours, there is powerful significance in any single human story.
We all have our own significance for the chapter that we live(d.)
Of course, Einstein played his chapter as one of significance for all humankind, but when you really get down to it, we all do that to a certain degree because humankind is interconnected.
When we celebrate our own next birthday, we are celebrating another act of defiance against oblivion. It is our human way of saying, "I am still here, and this moment matters." Birthdays are also expressions of gratitude; not only for another year lived but for the people who make life meaningful.
Full Throttle
Living life "full throttle" means immersing oneself in the present moment with unwavering determination and unapologetic authenticity. (Thanks Sammy, for the reminder!) It’s about embracing life as an adventure, refusing to settle for mediocrity, and pursuing one's passions, dreams, and values with fervor and courage.
Each year, as far back as I can remember, I've (almost) always felt that the years ahead are mine to embrace with the vigor of a driver unbound by rules, reveling in the wind rushing through the windows of possibility.
At full throttle, there is no room for half-hearted engagement. Whether I'm sharing a laugh with loved ones, tackling a work project, or experiencing a quiet moment of reflection, I do my very best to show up fully. This presence allows me to savor the sweetness of life; the beauty of a sunrise, the warmth of a shared smile, the serendipity of meeting an old friend, the exhilaration of chasing a goal.
It’s about doing things with my whole heart, and with love.
So, as the candles flicker on my 55th birthday cake, I will not let them be mere symbols of passing time but instead blazing beacons of my crazy, rebellious, very individualistic spirit. It is my intention to let Hagar’s words remind me that while the world may try to impose limits, my journey is mine to navigate. All mine!
I intend to keep driving fast, living fully, lifting iron and letting 55 be a celebration of not just where I've been, but where I'm heading ... with no intention of slowing down.
Happy Birthday to me. The Best Is Yet To Come!
"I am still here, and this moment matters."❤️
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