Is your life today what you pictured a year ago?
Is my life today what I pictured a year ago? The answer is yes and no.
I lived on the beaches for thirty years, so my worldview is shaped by surf culture. One of the first things you learn is that you don’t control the conditions—you respond to them. Sometimes there’s a clean swell and everything lines up. Sometimes it’s choppy and awkward, and you do your best. Sometimes it’s wild and unpredictable, and wisdom says you sit that one out. The ocean doesn’t ask for your opinion. You read it, make decisions, and live with them.
In that sense, this year has been fairly predictable. I’ve lived long enough to recognise the patterns. I knew my parents’ health would decline. I expected the gradual shift toward nursing home visits, regular check-ins, and the small crises that come when anxiety and loss of independence take hold. None of this is surprising—but it is still stressful when it happens. Knowing it’s coming doesn’t make it any easier.
College life brought a different set of conditions. The year turned out to be more demanding than expected, with a high number of students carrying complex needs. That took us by surprise and forced us to rethink how we do things. Fatigue has been real for both staff and student leaders. At the same time, academic results have been getting stronger every year. Choppy water, yes, but also moments that remind us why we keep paddling out.
Then there were the clear mornings you don’t plan for. Early in the year, we travelled to Antarctica. A year ago, I wouldn’t have imagined just how good it would be. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that exceeded every expectation—one of those rare, glassy days when everything feels aligned and you simply give thanks.
Something similar happened with writing. After a long break brought on by work pressures, I found myself writing again—and enjoying it more than I expected. A couple of pieces were published, which I hadn’t anticipated. It felt like catching a wave I thought had already passed.
So is my life what I pictured a year ago? Yes and no. I’m learning to roll with the conditions. Some days are clean and generous. Other days are messy or tiring. The task isn’t control—it’s discernment: knowing when to paddle, when to adjust, when to rest, and when to sit quietly on the sand.
I don’t control the conditions. I trust God for each step, make the decisions that are mine to make, and try to enjoy the ride when it comes.
The Afterword 
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