Round the Bend
Young people are in a condition like permanent intoxication, because youth is sweet and they are growing.
Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC)
Next tuesday I’ll be…27. Every year around this time I reflect and think about the future as well. I ponder where I am and where I would like to be. I understand more fully every year a scene in Fight Club. In the scene Edward Norton mentions that he feels like a 30 year old boy. I’m not saying I don’t feel mature, but I remember thinking that everything would seem so much different when I became an adult. The only thing that’s really different is what I know and how I look at things. The world hasn’t changed at all. At least the way it is. I never imagined I’d be walking around with my phone in my pocket or that I’d have been on stages with people I respect. I would not have thought that younger people would look to me. Yet all these things have come to pass. Time is funny when you think in increments…I remember telling my man that when the time that passed since we graduted from high school passe again we’d be thirty. Now thirty is three years away. Just think, in another 27 years I’ll be 54. Right now 10 years is more than a third of my life. When I’m 54 it’ll just be another period like High School is to me now. I don’t regret my age in the least. It’s just funny sometimes. I remember being the youngest amongst a group…often times I’m one of the oldest now and if I’m not we’re talking about people with children a few years younger than me. My improvements now come with action I take. Not just because I’ll get taller (though I am still waiting for my beard to connect) or my voice will get deeper. My growth now is a choice that I must follow through on. It’s really the antithesis to being young. Things are in my hands now. No one can force me, if people chastise me it’s my choice on how to feel about it. No one can make me stay anywhere and they can’t force me to leave. My legend roams about crafted by my actions and the perceptions of others…or their misconceptions. I can change my image in the eyes of others…if I care to. The most important thing now is it’s my choice. How will I mold my present and my future?
Excellent post. Sounds a lot like the things that I’ve thought about for the past 5 years. Isn’t it amazing? Here I was fussing at you in my “Aw Damn” post Friday for not updating and you were over here contemplating the meaning of life… *hugs*
Comment by Beloved — November 21, 2005 @ 4:57 pm
>>I remember thinking that everything would seem so much different when I became an adult
Yeah, me too. But I find I’m still me. That’s okay though.
Happy b-day in advance. Hope you don’t get forgotten in the festivities.
Comment by God's Child — November 21, 2005 @ 6:43 pm
What a wonderful and timely post!
My birthday is the 12th of December and I am starting my reflection as well. I always think that when I was 18 or 21 how I planned for my life to be much different than it is now. However, thankful and mindul of all of my lessons and experiences. It also amazes me how I have changed but the core of me is the same.
Happy early birthday!
Comment by Icey — November 21, 2005 @ 7:00 pm
Birthdays are a wonderful time for reflection.
Comment by Nikki — November 21, 2005 @ 9:13 pm
Happy Birthday in advance. I used to get all introspective with birthdays, but somewhere after 35, I stopped even keeping track. I’ll be 40-41-42, possibly even 43 in a couple weeks.
Comment by Buck — November 22, 2005 @ 12:28 am
oh man, people, don’t you know that you shouldn’t congratulate EVER in advance????awwwwwwww. *scratches her head*…well, i guess just another ‘different cultures, different customs’ type of thing….
)
;-)
hey amadeo, you couldn’t have said it better, i ve always thought about aging in the exact same way…matter of fact, this post makes me very curious now too. i would really love to talk to you one day….for how long it would take us but yeah i just feel i would love it. and be inspired.
is that pic you? it s gorgeous anyways. you have a beautiful soul.
i love you like that….just like that. whoever you are, your writing is wonderful…
i wish that one day you’ll have your own children and they will have such a great daddy. wonderful thing that….
take care and thanks for reading through my rediculously long post… (:
one love
piranha
ps. it is in our hands, for sure….sucks at times but liberates, too
Comment by piranha — November 22, 2005 @ 1:22 am
Moms told me years ago as I noticed I was getting older, The only thing that will shock you as you get older, is that you will meet more and more stupid folks. She was right. Enjoy 27 man, remember, you cant go back.
Comment by gunner kaufman — November 22, 2005 @ 1:33 am
I got asked when I turned 16 how I felt… I felt the same.
When I turned 18, my mother asked me how it felt to be 18…I shrugged… I didn’t feel any different.
10 years later… and I still feel the same, a little wiser and none to worse for wear… but the same.
I look forward to getting older. The beauty of age is coming to realization that you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. I feel ancient sometimes, yet when I’m around those a few years younger than me, sitting around… talking about “their husbands” like a pack of yentas, I roll my eyes, and thank goddess I’m still young and free!
Comment by coffey0072 — November 22, 2005 @ 2:08 am
i got tis weird birthday thing where i sorta just jump to the next year somewhere midway through so i’m always thinking i’m a year older unless i actually remember my birthdate and do the math. i get all introspective about my birthdays too, what have i done up to this point, what have i done this year etc etc
Comment by jdid — November 22, 2005 @ 10:59 am
Hey my brotha. I am definitely feeling this entry. It’s always good to look back and try to take a peek into the future as well. It tends to give us a sense of direction and a flowchart to how far we’ve progressed and in some cases digressed and if it’s the latter, what can we do about it. But, your head is in the right place. It’s cool to look at ourselves in the mirror and pose questions to that individual. Whether it be the man in the mirror, or the woman in the mirror, we should ask ourselves questions more. But here’s a little food for thought. You are still in the prologue of your life if you are destined to live to, lets say 90 years old. And in that case, life is still unfolding before you. Picture that. I’ll be gone for a minute man, but Happy Birthday in advance. I won’t be able to tell you that next week. One love dude…
Comment by Luke Cage — November 22, 2005 @ 11:51 am
I feel you fellow Sag. I turn 29 on Thursday (I prefer renewing my 25 year old certifcation) and my essence is still the same. I don’t necessarily make the same mistakes, but my same character flaws cause me to make others. I’m still working on that. I get a little freaked out by the prospect of 30 being so close, but hell, living another year definitely beats the alternative.
Comment by Breez — November 22, 2005 @ 5:23 pm
Happy birthday, youngblood!
Comment by Mariposa — November 22, 2005 @ 7:00 pm
Each year i wonder how it got away from me so fast…damn you got me feeling old as you creep on 30 i am creeping on 40…hey what the hell are you so worried about-all love..
Comment by dawud — November 23, 2005 @ 8:20 pm
Look @ all of these fresh ass Sags up in here!:).. Ill be 29 December 13th… Happy B-day to u man ( and everyone else as well)!!!!
For me birthdays are always a time for celebration. WHo’s to say we’ll all be here till the age of 90? Ive never really been the type to say I should be doing this by this age and so on, I have goals but for the most part I wing it… im mean, I’d like to think that Im making the right choices so that the future plans come to light, but I dont stress on it. I enjoy each minute alive on this planet like it could be my last.. I know the husband and the kids with the house and everything will come eventually.. im patient.
What r the B-day Plans?
Comment by msjaim — November 25, 2005 @ 11:12 pm