Today I felt actual real unbridled joy. It felt like I was alive in the universe. Have you ever experienced this?
I imagine it’s close to what people feel on roller coasters where they feel like they are flying combined with how people feel during moments of pure happiness like getting married or something.
I was out riding on the back of a moto, we turned from the dirt road to the paved main road and suddenly another bike was next to us, itself not usual, but it was driven by another person I work with. We talked via shouting back and forth across the wind while we whipped down the road. He overtook us, then we overtook him, and then he overtook us one last time and left us behind. I looked up at the perfect blue sky, just wispy white clouds, and laughed with tears in my eyes. Here in the center of the world, I am so at peace.
I spent so much of my life being truly miserable in one way or another, whether this was caused by whatever job situation, life circumstance, or messed-up brain chemistry. Truly, I can barely recognize those feelings, or that person these days. I’ve never been happier, or calmer, all without real effort, ever in my life. Even as a small child I was so wracked with anxiety that I never enjoyed being alive.
I don’t know if it’s from living here, or this job, or the people I’m surrounded with, or just growing up and becoming satisfied with who I am.
This time last year, I used to cry at work every day. This time five years ago, I had just moved to Boston and wanted to die every day. This time ten years ago, I was graduating high school and hated myself.
It’s so strange. 28 is going to be a great year.