you know you're getting old when.

When you become an adult, no one really tells you what you're supposed to do. There's no mandatory classes, or reminders about where you're supposed to be at what age.

Especially parenthood. Oh boy. Most parents get a rude shock when there's no manual attached to the newborn baby.

You only pick it up when you start noticing people around you. Like when your friends start to get married, have kids, do their taxes, get promoted in their jobs, etc. And you're cruising along when you realize, wait a minute, I think I'm supposed to be doing that too.

And then comes both a desperate desire to catch up, as well as a sinking depression about how far away you are from achieving those goals. You don't really get flashbacks nor convictions about childhood ambitions for your life when you're busy thinking about your grocery list, nor doing laundry for the week. It comes only when someone else comes along and shows you what you missed out on.

I don't mind the figuringthingsoutyourself bit. Just that the whole everydecisioncouldleadtodifferentconsequences disturbs me a little sometimes.


. Arigato .