This is Thirty-Three

Little did I realise how significant this birthday would be.

I considered letting it roll by, much like almost all my other birthdays, year in, year out...but for some reason Thirty-Three seems important. Of course, for ordinary people this could be the beginning of the 'middle-ages' but I don't feel like I'm quite there yet.

By the time you're middle-aged aren't you supposed to be settled, with a career, and have certain financial security? One out of three isn't bad I suppose, but not necessarily the route I thought life would go. But let's face it, I was going to take a less than ordinary route to the middle-ages anyway.

No, I think the significance comes in a few months time I will have graced the world with my presence for almost a third of a century, and that puts a few things into perspective for me. Thirty-three years is a long long time for anyone, but not long enough for someone who was only just starting out. (Only a few of us are child superstars after all, and even then, that's not always a good thing.)

But in thirty-three years time, when I'm nearing two-thirds of a century in I want to be able to look back and think - 'I did that.'

And that's where my head is at today. Staring into the unknowable future and planning, calculating and planning some more. Though for no other reason than to hold myself accountable, I think I'll shout out to the ether in the hopes of manifesting the outcome...so here goes nothing...

By the time I am Thirty-Five...

• I want to keep supporting my Wife and Daughter and make them laugh everyday.

• I want to be a published Author and Voice Actor (for my own Audiobooks), and find a way to improve sales of my Cartography.

• I want to have won the lottery, at least once.

I think that covers the settled, with a career, and have certain financial security thing, don't you think? And if all of those things manifest themselves, then I will go into the middle-ages gracefully. And if not...kicking and screaming like the millennial in me wants to.

What do you think? Do you try and aim for goals or let goals wash over you? Let me know in the comments I'm not alone!