Sunday, June 08, 2003

Today I turn forty-one. I feel good, like a grown-up, actually, my protracted American adolescence behind me at last. Good thing, too, since my kids are on the cusp of their own adolescences, and it helps to have an adult for a dad.   Past birthdays sometimes left me a little blue, knowing that I had blown whatever chance I’d ever had at being an enfant terrible, boy wonder, tyro, or overnight sensation. This year I’m focused on my new goal: late bloomer. I’ve got a lot of work to do, and now that I’ve outlived the curse of potential that’s dogged me since childhood I think I’m ready to begin.   One thing I’m grateful for is that I’m apparently not going to follow the worn path toward conservatism beaten by so many people as they age. I don’t mean that politically, although politics can be a manifestation of the syndrome. I mean getting defensive, pulling up the ladders, retreating into what you’ve got and resenting what you’re not.   Instead I find that my thinking is growing less categorical, and my willingness to try to understand multiple truths has grown. I say I’m grateful for this because while it involves some conscious effort and learned behavior I think it’s also a personality trait or a tendency of the spirit, and I think it’s a gift.   It’s a long way to the Bo tree, but I feel like I’m on the path (and I’m comfortable with the knowledge that there is no path). 8:47:11 AM    comment []