I am one day older.
Than yesterday.
I saw a dead man in the street on the way to the airport two days ago. My taxi moved around a beat-up ambulance with a pudgy police officer standing in the street a few feet away from a large, black tarp covering a body. The feet were sticking out.
He must have been walking across the street because there were no wrecked cars. He also must have been hard on his luck because he had no shoes. Just big feet.
I have seen dead bodies in the streets of Africa, Central America, and now Ecuador.
My birthday was yesterday.
I am one day older.
As I type this my feet are in the sand and I am looking out at two surfers trying to catch minimal waves. There is a paraglider crossing the sky and a few beach dogs prancing around. My hotel room costs $50 and looks over the ocean. The coffee sucks. The bananas are fresh.
Today I stumbled across a TikTok video of a man with white hair, spotty white beard, and wrinkles staring into the camera. He didn’t say anything but typed out across the video were the following words…
I just found out I have cancer in both of my lungs. I am alone and scared.
The video had 3400 comments.
In Bhutan, a small Asian country that ranks #1 in happiness globally, they contemplate death three times a day. It is a Buddhist practice they claim makes people happier.
Tomorrow is one more day. One more chance to explore this life of mine. One more chance to create new things, meet new people, and learn more about myself.
This year I think my mantra is going to be…
BE WITH PEOPLE
Sometimes I am alone and scared. What about you?
Trey
Happy Birthday 😘