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tugrik33 is an odd age (not just in the strict numeric sense). It's a notch in the life-study that doesn't really fit into any of the common roles.
The 20-somethings were spent with nose tucked against the Silicon Valley grindstone, developing the career that I'm now glad to posess. The 30-somethings are well underway, but I personally haven't taken much part in them compared to those around me. Co-workers, neighbors and friends are all trying to blunder through their version of the American Dream, be it kid-raising, house-building or ladder-climbing. Everybody seems terribly concerned with their life's path while at the same time having no idea how to go about it. It's like watching a sporting mach where nobody knows the rules: everybody running around with various balls, sticks and uniforms, but nobody knows which goal is theirs or how to score. At least they've been at it long enough that there's not as many fouls going on.
As for me, the midlife crisis ages aren't here yet nor is any real sight of the 'goal' of retirement much farther on -- but I'm all too aware of being past the Youthful Exuberance part. I'm moving too, but it's still in more of a study-and-explore way. I've got no net or goalpost to rush at just yet; I'm still enjoying the whole running around and adventuring part. At the same time I'm learning quite a bit by watching my friends and relatives with their goal-seeking. Some are just starting up their families to see where they go (Congrats again, sis! And congrats as well to a number of my net-friends on their families-in-progress). Others used the dot.com bubble to leap to their goal only to end up with some of the most unanswerable cases of "...what now?" that I've ever seen. I hope happiness and love helps them find their answer and define them new goals. Love is right there, friends... all around you. You've but to stop mooring yourself with pre-defined and pre-decided emotions. Free yourself and let go. Become part of the flow. It's how life works.
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There's a lot of things I've thought about in the week leading up to today. Some of them bear writing out and soon will be. Today, however, I'll put those heavier thoughts aside. It's my birthday. I'm 33. Time to celebrate life. :)
The 20-somethings were spent with nose tucked against the Silicon Valley grindstone, developing the career that I'm now glad to posess. The 30-somethings are well underway, but I personally haven't taken much part in them compared to those around me. Co-workers, neighbors and friends are all trying to blunder through their version of the American Dream, be it kid-raising, house-building or ladder-climbing. Everybody seems terribly concerned with their life's path while at the same time having no idea how to go about it. It's like watching a sporting mach where nobody knows the rules: everybody running around with various balls, sticks and uniforms, but nobody knows which goal is theirs or how to score. At least they've been at it long enough that there's not as many fouls going on.
As for me, the midlife crisis ages aren't here yet nor is any real sight of the 'goal' of retirement much farther on -- but I'm all too aware of being past the Youthful Exuberance part. I'm moving too, but it's still in more of a study-and-explore way. I've got no net or goalpost to rush at just yet; I'm still enjoying the whole running around and adventuring part. At the same time I'm learning quite a bit by watching my friends and relatives with their goal-seeking. Some are just starting up their families to see where they go (Congrats again, sis! And congrats as well to a number of my net-friends on their families-in-progress). Others used the dot.com bubble to leap to their goal only to end up with some of the most unanswerable cases of "...what now?" that I've ever seen. I hope happiness and love helps them find their answer and define them new goals. Love is right there, friends... all around you. You've but to stop mooring yourself with pre-defined and pre-decided emotions. Free yourself and let go. Become part of the flow. It's how life works.
----
There's a lot of things I've thought about in the week leading up to today. Some of them bear writing out and soon will be. Today, however, I'll put those heavier thoughts aside. It's my birthday. I'm 33. Time to celebrate life. :)
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no subject
Date: 2003-07-14 01:03 am (UTC)I like your analogy of the ballgame, and I think you're right... :)
Good advice- seeing how I just hit my 30s (eek O_O) I've been trying to let go of pre-conceived notions and go with the flow, too.
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Date: 2003-07-14 01:09 am (UTC)And you know what? I thought you were older than me, because you seem to have done so MUCH -- and seem, well, wise in a way.
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Date: 2003-07-14 02:00 am (UTC)Yep, you got it.
Date: 2003-07-14 02:02 am (UTC)Re: Yep, you got it.
Date: 2003-07-14 02:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-14 02:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-14 02:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-14 03:03 am (UTC)I would never in a million years have guessed that I was older than you :-)
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Date: 2003-07-14 09:26 am (UTC)Now I have to wonder how old people thought I was... :)
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Date: 2003-07-14 09:56 am (UTC)Anyway, happy birthday!
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Date: 2003-07-14 12:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-14 06:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-14 06:50 am (UTC)The only problem is.. I'm not sure the game has rules per-se. I think just everyone playing has a set of rules.
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Date: 2003-07-14 07:35 am (UTC)I hope you have something wayfun in store to celebrate it. :) And I wish I were there to enjoy it with ya! I miss ya, monocerous. :)
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Date: 2003-07-14 07:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-14 08:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-14 08:36 am (UTC)Looking at the people around me... I'm glad I didn't swallow the 'You can be anything you want to be' speel. Some people never figured out what they WANTED to be because they had so many supposed 'opportunities/directions' to look at that they never focused on any one or two. :P
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Date: 2003-07-14 10:31 am (UTC)From another 30-something who's also not really sure just what to make of life, but is busy doing it anyway...
Make sure to mark Nov 14th on your calendar for your 1/3 century day. <grin>
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Date: 2003-07-14 11:37 am (UTC)Remember:
"It's not the age, it's the mileage."
"You're only as old as you feel."
"I'm making this up as I go."
Zrath ("No matter where you go, there you are.")
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Date: 2003-07-14 11:55 am (UTC)Brilliant observation and metaphore. Most humorous to visulise. I would nit pick that it's not so much that no one knows the rules. I'm certain lots of people would claim ignorance of the rules, But I think the rules are different for each person and we must take responsibility for helping to write our own rules. Success seems to always be the goal, but what that means is different to each person. And what to do if you actually get there? And what to do if you can never get there?
I tried the go with the flow bit. It really didn't work for me. In my instance, in order to meet the first level or two of Maslow's pyrmid I need to be a little more agressive than that. Still there are some days that the only thing keeping me going are my long term goals.
Your right though, early thirties are a little strange. Feels kinda like a plexiglass maze.
Brightest Birthday Blessings upon You!
Somnio Feritur!
What are we gonna do tonight?
Date: 2003-07-14 01:02 pm (UTC)Dusty
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Date: 2003-07-14 05:15 pm (UTC)As for the sports analogy -- what do you suppose the half-time entertainment will be? }:)
Happy Birthday!
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Date: 2003-07-14 07:04 pm (UTC)I feel privileged to have known you for as long as I have. Happy once-more-'round-the-sun-day, Tug.
-Traveller.
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Date: 2003-07-15 09:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-15 02:43 pm (UTC)