Saturday, November 19, 2011

GOOD LUCK AMBER

My niece finishes her year 12 exams tomorrow, my wish of luck is not for that exam, but for life ahead. She's done all the hard work, and I'm sure crammed enough in to breeze through tomorrow. From the moment she finishes that exam tomorrow, life moves pretty fast. "No more books, no teachers dirty looks"...just a whole lot of life to live and explore. Casting back a coucheyeview to when I finished school, I felt so big, so relieved, so grown up, so excited, so free. 
My brother Dave picked me up outside school with a beer awaiting me. I could not have asked for a more symbolic start to my new life. It was such an Australian, good on ya bloke moment. If in that can I could have magically been told what lay ahead for me in life, would I have listened to the story? For sure.
Life has certainly gone in different directions to what I dreamed for at that time, yet I would not change a thing. The unknown is an amazing thing, it's exciting and scary and inspiring all at once. It's something you can never 100% be ready to meet, but when you do, you can only stand in your own truth and control what you can control.
So Amber, while I won't be there out the front to pick you up with a beer at the ready, (you'd politely decline the tipple anyway) my thoughts will be with you tomorrow. The achievement of finishing your exams, on its own is one to celebrate. Well done. I will raise a glass and toast you with pride. 
The elation, internal joy, relief and that feeling free moment is all yours and yours alone to enjoy. Try to remember it.
Because right then at that very moment, is one of the times in life you will meet the unknown. 
Good Luck.