I have a birthday coming up. I'll be 37. I can't even believe it. Due to my many years boozin' to self-medicate anxiety, a good portion of those years are fuzzy at best. It's been over a year since I quit the sauce. My psyche feels sorta' like when I was when I was a young man tempered by the lessons hard learned. 

I became aware of all the little changes in life and society that I was too blotto, bummed, or just having too much fun to notice over the years. Peers having families, taking on surprising projects, or just news events; it's so surreal to me sometimes! Like I woke up in the future or something. 

There are positive changes in the works I'm hoping will pan-out. All of our home improvement projects are well underway, albeit slowed down a bit due to the oppressive heat lately. I still catch a blue streak every now and then, but I learned how to manage much better. 

With my youthful ambition restored, lessons learned and positive changes, two motivations surfaced. One to learn more and develop the positive changes. I listen to podcasts and TED talks, practice my talents regularly and meditate. I also like to balance all the change by watching my favorite classic TV shows and movies and doing things I always enjoyed. 

Something that was lame today was going to the DMV. I either lost or never received my driver license renewal notice. I renewed online but needed temporary one since the current would have expired tomorrow and it takes a few weeks to snail-mail your new one. I went in thinking it would be a cinch to get one printed up. Oh DMV. A two-hour wait in the waiting room from Beetlejuice, to get a hand written temporary license. Sitting there amongst the randos, I realized how far I had come as a person since the last time I was there five years ago though. I guess that's what brought about this article. 

So as I prepare to turn thirty freakin' seven, I go into it feeling hopeful. Hoping my efforts have been worth it, and of the person I'm developing into. I was bummed for so long I didn't become the person I tried to be. But now in my "old age" I'm working on something better. Developing the person I am. Thanks for reading guys! 

-Mike