"Greed is Good!" proclaimed Gordon Gekko in Wall Street (the movie). The year was 1987 and I was still lovin' yuppiedom. A new condo in Hoboken...summers in the Hamptons...a much-coveted VP title. But then I started growing up and realizing what was really important.
All of a sudden, life took all kinds of adult turns. My first daughter was born (which was both awesome and terrifying -- was I really competent to be a parent??!!). I lost most of my right lung (to a benign tumor) and spent several days in the ICU. The whole experience was quite humbling...I guess there is such a thing as mortality! My father died suddenly (Ditto). And then I had another baby. Talk about growing up fast.
I worked hard. I got promotions. We moved to the suburbs. We bought real furniture. I drove to Gymboree. I drove myself -- and my staff -- crazy. I looked and felt like hell most of the time. But my daughters sure were adorable!
Lessons learned in my 30s:
- Life is short. Enjoy it.
- If you have a chronic cough, go to a doctor.
- Commuting to Chicago every week is not really fun after the second week. (When my job moved, I flew back and forth...great for AA miles, but that's about it.)
- When you're a parent, nothing ever really grosses you out.
- Greed WAS good. Health and family are better.
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