Geoff Holden

When I wrote my last post, I had intended for the word “defenses” to be a link to a page about sunscreen, etc. but I couldn’t find one I thought would make a good link. Instead I stumbled on a song I hadn’t heard in years that I’m glad I found again.

The lyrics to said song were taken word-for-word out a column in the Chicago Tribune by Mary Schmich. It’s been interesting to go back and re-read the lyrics again. When I had first heard the song in the spring of 1999 I was almost a year out of high school, completing my first year of university. Since then I’ve finished school, got my degree, joined the workforce, and recently decided to return to school.

Some of the lines from that column mean a lot more to me now, after having experienced more of life.

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don’t.

This one’s a little funny. At 19 I thought I knew exactly what I was going to do with my life, today I really don’t know. This is probably because in 1999, 5 more years of school was almost as far out as I could conceive, so I knew I wanted to do Engineering and then go to work–which I did, but what’s next? After another 2 years of school, I guess I’ll find out–and I’m glad I don’t know it yet, because who really wants their whole life planned out anyways?

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

In high school, my friends were my friends and they were going to stay that way forever. I don’t remember the last time I spoke to a person from my graduating class. The people who did remain close to me after high school have since drifted further and further away… I don’t really know any of them anymore.

… and I apparently still haven’t clued in on the sunscreen.