In the grand equation of the universe, each of us is but a particle, influenced by the fields and forces that surround us. And yet, within each of us lies immense potential—just as the proton and electron, though small, create the structure of the atom, so too do our actions, no matter how minute, influence the vast web of human interaction.

Lately I have come to acknowledge that time, as Einstein taught us, is relative. The years may pass, but they do so in the context of our experiences, aspirations, and the energy we put into our surroundings. On my birthday, I reflect on how we have bent spacetime in our favor, navigating challenges and opportunities with the precision of a quantum calculation. Even though Thermodynamic teaches us that life tends towards entropy, on days like this I think about the small pockets of order and harmony I may have created in my time here. I reflected upon two things I will love to share.

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One is a short story. There’s an ancient Chinese myth about the red thread of fate. It says that the gods have a red thread around everyone of our ankles and attached to all the people whose lives are destined to touch. This thread may stretch or tangle but it will never break. It is all predetermined by mathematical probabilities—and it is our jobs to recognize and maybe make those connections—to touch lives.

If you think about it, as of October 19th 2024, there are 8,137,487,761 of us living on this tiny planet, suspended, alone, in the vastness of space. Our purpose here is the great mystery of our fragile existence. Perhaps the fact of being alone in the universe unites us, makes us depend on each other for some things, creating a quantum correlation between you and me, between us.

Its like Pando – “the Trembling Giant”. If you are hiking through Utah Fishlake Forests, you will wander through the most glorious grove of quaking, quivering, aspens—50,000 spread over a 100 acres. What a sight! In Autumn you look up every leaf of flaming touch dancer. What you don’t see is the entire grove is one plant, interconnected by an enormous underground root system that forms the largest living organism on Earth.

My profound, perhaps not novel, epiphany? We are all connected. So, some good done here, done there, comes back. Even the good book says it! We are more connected than we realize - a gigantic plumbing network, it is just not so obvious.

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The second is what to do with the future. You see, life was given to me 15,252,840 minutes ago, and of all that time, what have I done with it? As of my first day being 29, I have three things: family, life passion, and true love. Four, if you include my estranged dog, Ruby. I do not have a Nobel Prize. Yet.

Birthdays, like all events, are merely points on the timeline of our lives. The real celebration lies in the potential energy of what is yet to come—the uncollapsed wave functions of our future. There is a universe of possibilities ahead, waiting to be explored with the same curiosity that drives scientists to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos. For me, I want to explore the future the Elon Musk way—just the spacefaring Elon though.

To explore the future as a tailor weaving new threads of human ingenuity on the fabrics of civilization. To explore the future as a shareholder in the business of changing the world—making it a place we will want to visit again 200 years from today; certainly one, where no pet owner would lose the love of their dogs. In my reflections, I reaffirmed this childhood realization of mine.

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As I celebrate this revolution around the sun, I am reminded of Newton’s first law: a body in motion stays in motion. I, too, aim to stay in motion—constantly evolving, learning, and contributing to the fabric of this reality we share.

So, here’s to the next year of dynamic equilibrium, where we balance work and play, expansion and reflection, much like the forces of nature seek balance in the cosmic dance. Here’s to entangling with new ideas, new people, and new experiences, knowing that every interaction adds to the beautiful complexity of life.

Thank you all for being a part of this life; this singularity of purpose and hopefully, vision. Together, we form a system far greater than the sum of its parts.

Here’s to many more revolutions around our star. Cheers!

PS:

My Birthday Song – “Leave a Light On” by Tom Walker (Acoustic version)