After being in New York for almost 6 years now, I've come to realize even more how important it is to put things in perspective on a daily basis. It is a gift to have food on the table and a roof over your head. It is even more delightful to be able to live in this city!
Last night, I attended a surprise birthday party for one of our dear friends in a quaint little restaurant in the West Village. She turned 43. While a lot of people don't disclose their true age (or proclaim they are "forever 21"), she declared her new age with no shame. I admired her for that. She said she likes to celebrate another year of life, and since there's much to be thankful for, she wants to celebrate for a full month!
There was no talk of work at all during that night. People just talked about travels, friends, stuff they like and passions. It was so refreshing.
The surprise party lasted for 4 hours with a small group of people in a small restaurant's backyard. When you look at the earth from the moon, you won't even see a speck of evidence that this tiny gathering was happening. However, when it ended, I left feeling bigger and better being surrounded by people who celebrate the million reasons to feel alive. None of these reasons had anything to do with money and work.
