99, one hundred

Some time ago, we received news that Ur-Oma's (your great grandma in California) health may be on the decline. She is 99-years-strong and we all hope she will get to have one hundred candles on her cake this December- wouldn't that be amazing?

There was a bit of denial when we emailed back-and-forth: oh she is strong, she is going to make it! She will be 100!

Of course, I hope with all my heart that Oma M will get to blow out one hundred candles on her cake. It will be a most grand celebration, imagine being guests of a 100-year-old birthday girl!

But what is most important is the quality of life. I hope she is enjoying every minute of it. And I hope you all get to enjoy every minute of your life. Life is not easy to come by, we know that. The Buddhists even believe one needs to undergo countless reincarnations before one can attain the human form. So, now that we've got it, let's treasure it and have a full blast.

I also could not help but think of how we all have our sights on that one-hundred, like it is a prize. It surely is an amazing achievement, but we all have to start from zero and get somewhere.

Instead of craning forward, I looked back. Oma M has had quite an amazing life and many stories to tell. She even has written a memoir that is now kept as a record with the California archives. She gave birth and brought up four boys first in Indonesia and then in Japan. She was a senior Olympics swimming gold medal winner. Like all people, she has her triumphs and her defeats, her shiny facets and her flaws.

It is certainly great to always reach higher, for the stars even. To always strive for higher, better, faster, stronger is not a bad thing indeed, but never forget to seek within, get in touch with your heart, and not forget that to reach for the stars so high, you need something to step upon, and all your life, you are building that ladder, yourself (and with some help, maybe a lot of help from others).

Go for it. You can if you want. If you can't, you have tried. Savor it all.