Might be a half time trait, but I tend to want to reminisce about old times more often as I cross 50. I do get a sense from my friends that they are also trying to slow down and smell the roses a bit more. Everyone makes a point to get together and we tend to treasure these moments.
With that in mind, I had been planning a school reunion with an old friend for the last 3 months. It will finally happen tomorrow evening. We have been putting out teaser ads on our FB event and group pages for many weeks to gather interest. We expect at least 130 people to show up, some coming from as far as USA, HK and Thailand just to attend. Hopefully, we will all have a blast as we go down memory lane, look at old photos and play lotsa 80’s music at the event.
Tonight, an ex-colleague has also planned a get-together session for everyone whom we had worked with in the Treasury department from the late 80’s to mid-2000 period. The most senior guy has kindly sponsored this event and at least 50 to 75 people are expected to show up. A similar gathering last happened in 2012. It is amazing that I have already worked for more than 25 years in this industry! These people were there with me when we encountered some crazy shit in the financial markets – UK out of EMU in 1992, Asia and Russian crises, Y2K fiasco, Tech meltdown, GFC…
As I head into my second half in life, I begin to value such experiences even more. With our limited time on this earth and facing more uncertainties as we get older, we should cherish old friendships, forge new experiences with great friends and try not to worry about things we cannot control. “Staying healthy and happy” is my mantra. It keeps me focused. I aim to count my blessings every day and this will keep me grounded.
“Nostalgia made me feel that my life had roots and continuity. It made me feel good about myself and my relationships. It provided a texture to my life and gave me the strength to move forward.”
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