Forty

[tcpip]

Despite its strong Judeo-Christian overtones many years ago at the tender age of 16, I decided that U2's 40 would be my song when I reached that age. So here I am; forty years old. It ain't so bad; the day was like any other although I must admit, I think my chance to be a champion athlete has passed :-)

Is there supposed to be a radical moment of self-reflection of one's achievements at this stage, representing the nominal half-way point in one's life, or the time it takes a generation to arise? Muhammed received his first angelic revelation at 40.. how about that for dealing with a mid-life crisis?

If I am to do so, I feel a great sense of good fortune. Despite my social background, I've managed to drag myself to a comfortable financial situation, and yet I feel strongly for those who have not had the opportunity or circumstances to improve their lot. I can look back in past and present careers; education advocate and researcher, political advisor, computer systems trainer, systems administrator - with modest degree of satisfaction with the actions and results.

I have been blessed with a modicum of good looks (or so I've been told) and a gregarious personality, which has meant good fortune in love. Indeed, I have been much blessed by past and present partners and from each and every one of them I have learned valuable, positive lessons of life and relationships.

At forty I can feel relaxed, comfortable and satisfied. Yet there is still a buring fire within that wants to take back the future, to remake the world and that project still has another two score to run - at the very least.

Comments

[mr-figgy.livejournal.com]

You've also surely defeated the silly notion that left-politics are for youngsters, and that people are destined to become more conservative as they get established in life.

Some become older, wiser and more radical...

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

My favourite variation of that is the misattribution to Winston Churchill: "If you're not a liberal when you're 25, you have no heart. If you're not a conservative by the time you're 35, you have no brain." After all Churchill was a conservative at 15, and a liberal at 35!