Maybe sometimes the date is just a date.

I used to believe that there was not much more to coincidences than just that, coincidences. Why do we as human beings look into patterns and numbers so much? After all, we created them. They weren’t given to us by something higher power, nor were they made in the Bible (I think). It’s like time; it doesn’t exactly exist. So why do we have this fascination with numbers, dates, and time?

Well, I think I’ve figured it out. Maybe it has a little bit to do with hope. Hope could be the worst thing that’s ever happened to me because having such high hopes has always been the sad part for me.

Favorite team has the ball on the last play to win the game?

They missed it.

Meeting up for a date with a girl you’d like to date?

She’s dating someone else.

Do you listen to that new song from your favorite artist, expecting it to be better work than their last?

It isn’t awe-inspiring, and now you have to keep waiting.

If I put some thought into this, hope has made all the negative situations in my life even worse. If it weren’t for hope, I’d have almost expected something to go wrong. Murphy’s Law, right?

But check this out now. I’m addicted to hope. I’m addicted to finding those little coincidences in time. I’m addicted to catching the clock at 11:11 to make a wish that I probably will forget after the hour.

There’s something absurd about watching the same sunset as a city 2500 miles away, three hours apart.

Tomorrow is my work anniversary on 2/22/22. Eleven whole years of working for one single company. Do you know what the craziest part is? I knew this was going to happen. I’ve written about it in the past. I know that sounds cliche totally, but everything I ever wanted, I have told myself I would have it. Sure, there are many things I have wanted and have not received, but I’ve learned quickly that while they may not feel great, they are something I used to become great. Each time I didn’t receive what I wanted, I turned it around and said, “Hey world, it’s me again, I have a point to prove, and I need a little bit of help.” You won’t believe the number of times the world has told me not to worry about it and watch. 2/22/22 is the date I could have been starting a completely new life in a city 2500 miles away.

For someone who never believed in coincidences and was starting to doubt destiny and thinking the universe was too busy to be giving me signs, it’s kind of beautiful (and a little funny) to think of all these things. The universe loves to shoot reminders about what makes you feel alive and how you should take advantage to celebrate where the heck you’re at.

Maybe it’s time to go all-in on hope.