A disturbing trend
I have noticed recently that majority of my friends are going through major changes these days. Getting divorced, married, having children.. I think I can count maybe one or two friends who are not doing one of those listed... That's a little frightening.
Is it something specific to this age group? Care-free 20s over.. time for reflection on the meaning of life? (speaking of which, I liked "About Schmidt" quite a bit, great movie).
I'm debating whether it's just fear.. Turning 30, while to some may sound laughable, to me is a big change and I have an idea it's the same for most of my friends. This is it. The crossroads. If you don't have children yet and want them.. you better start on that pregnancy quickly... so there you have.. everyone wanting to get married in the hurry in the fear of becoming old and childless.
So this is what I've been doing lately.. reflecting on life and working.. and of course I got my promo disk of Zelda. Should be back to regular-geeky blogging tomorrow.
Comments
Hey, my life didn't really begin until after I was 30. Every year since has been far better than the previous. The last three weeks have been some of the most enjoyable in my life. What comes next, just happens....
Posted by: Stewart Vardaman | March 3, 2003 02:16 AM
I'm due for untrusworhtyness in May. I'd take some time to reflect on it, but Trevor probably needs a diaper changed. Or fed. Or played with. Maybe in 17-18 years I'll have time to reflect on turning 30.
Posted by: Dan Isaacs | March 3, 2003 08:15 AM
Wait until you hit the mid-30's and come to the realization that you are going to more funerals than weddings.
Posted by: Chris | March 3, 2003 10:29 AM
I realized not to long after thirty that I was no longer working *towards* something, I was *there*. I think that's what happens to most people; it's a natural progression of life, and isn't really related to age (although people within a group have a tendency to go through the phases together).
I'm worried about my forties, when I realise that I *was* there and didn't enjoy it enough :-)
Posted by: Harald | March 3, 2003 11:06 AM
Harald brings up a great point. In the teen and early 20's the tendency is to make long term goals (career, etc). These goals provide an enormous sense of defeat when the time alloted for them (in 5/10 years I want to be/do....) passes, or if the goals seem too far away.
Upon turning 30, I realized that my mindset had to change. Now I make goals in timespans less than 2 years - which forces focus. Make your goals fun too.
Instead of sweating it all off for a career, make the career a secondary - and switch the focus to something personal - like taking a month off to travel Europe, Asia, or the US.
My current goal is to be in France next year for the annual wine festivals that occur up and down the Bordeaux region...
Posted by: Don | March 3, 2003 11:27 AM
I'm turning 16 in a couple weeks (March 19). I don't view it as that huge of a deal (the actual age change) but I am excited about getting my learner's permit..:-)
You just have to remember that it is simply a measurement of how many times the Earth has gone around the sun since you were born. Don't linger on the past, or contemplate the future, just enjoy the present...:-)
Posted by: Techie2000 | March 3, 2003 03:46 PM
I know largely what you mean. Since turning 30, I've got married, had a child, changed from Contract work to a Permie role, moved country, taken up motorcycling again, dropped my hobby of 25 years, taken up a new one... And loved every minute of it.
Don't know when I'm due a mid-life crisis but, hey, I'm almost looking forwards to it.
Mike...
PS Don, if you make it over here, let's arrange to meet.
Posted by: Mike Short | March 4, 2003 07:47 AM
Just wait until you turn 35 and you then realize that as soon as that year's midpoint occurs that you're now closer to 40 than to 30.
Posted by: Scott Johnson | March 5, 2003 10:08 AM
I'm not sure I can remember that far back..
Posted by: tmpchaos | March 8, 2003 05:16 AM