[Kind of weekly thread] Men over 30, how is your week going?

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Surprisingly well! I've been dealing with a toxic coworker who was terminated for their toxicity, so that was encouraging. I have a chronic illness that has been flaring up that is now starting to chill out again. Best of all, my workaholic wife just had a revelation that working herself to death is bad and her employer is taking advantage of her. She might just quit her job for awhile and I'd love that. She has literally several months of PTO banked so it's doable.

So nothing amazing happened, but the big three negative things in my life just became less negative and the reduction in stress is huge.

How are you doing?

I'm on holiday for a fortnight now. Away with a group of friends at a chalet that one of them owns. Im overlooking the bay, the sea is beautiful and the weather is fine.

Im quite a bit over 30 - late 50s - and we have been doing this for just over half my life now.

This time, however, one of the friends isn't here, since he is getting more and more reluctant to leave his house at all and has been since covid. Another isn't here because he has just been in for an operation to remove a melanoma.

The effects of aging are definitely being quite prominent at the moment.

Heartache for me. The girl I was with decided her life didn't have enough time for me anymore. She probably made the right choice. Still, it hurts to spend your time wanting someone to hold and express affection to, and feeling like you are running out of time before you have nothing to offer anymore. How many chances are left when you are 40, short, and work in the dismal world of retail? Hope is something I'm having a hard time finding some days.

You have ups, and you have downs. This week I chose to focus on myself and my needs: I read two books, listened to music, spent time with the baby, reconnected with my partner by actively being more present, cooked delicious food all week (banana nut muffins this morning topped it off), started a professional mentorship series with a few former coworkers, and didn't have a single sev1 fire to deal with or put out this week at work.

But even as I type this, I realize how everything I've described above is just a small part of everything that made my week what it was, and how much of my perception of the week is due to intentionality toward things I give energy and mental/emotional focus to. We shape our own worlds every day, to one degree or another. This week I've been thinking a lot about the world(s) I'm shaping, actively and passively, and how previous choices have culminated in the experience I'm having now.

It was great when my offer got accepted and then not so great when the inspection revealed major issues

Good thanks, reading Orwell's lessor known books, getting a tan and sold newspapers for my political party at the rail drivers picket line.

Having at least three 12's this week wasn't on my agenda but it is what it is. Plus side is I can shitpost at work all I want, so I got that going for me.

My youngest just graduated from college on Friday. I have out of town friends at my house. This is a pretty good weekend!