Thursday, November 01, 2007

23!

I turned 23 recently; no firecrackers went up, no thunderstorms lashed the city; even the traffic was pretty quiet :). My manager came to know of it, and took the team out to dinner. I returned to office and worked till 5 in the morning.

Different years signify different turns in life:

3 - eyes wide open
5 - first lie
9 - crossing the street
10 - riding a bicycle
12 - girls, self-consciousness
16 - rebellion
18 - ambition
21 - expectations
24 - maturity
30 - responsibilities
35 - mid-life crisis
40 - last chance for greatness

I can't imagine a life beyond 40, not yet.

What does 23 mean? At 23, I and other close ones have expectations from me; I am not fully mature yet. It is one of those in-between phases, like the period between two exams.

I am fairly confident of clearing the exams - have spent the last 23 years, coached by parents, teachers, friends and circumstances to become mature and go on to take responsibilities (sort of like an MBA after bachelors :D).

Except that the exams never end, and as they say, it is not the marks that matter, it is what you have learnt; and so how you do in them is perhaps not so important as studying hard and enjoying the subjects you are being taught. Also, one doesn't need to take particular subjects just because a teacher recommended it, or because the guy next to you is taking it.

In interviews/chats with friends, I have been asked, "where I see myself 5/10/20/30 years down the line" - I have a few ready answers, none of which is any closer to the truth than the other.

I really don't know what I want to do beyond 40, or even before it. What I know is that I am no longer afraid of it - the subjects are interesting, and in any case, exams mein luck factor bhi to hota hai :D.

4 comments:

cathatfished said...

i'm turning 23 in two weeks and all i can think of is.. that my 21st was the last birthday i spent when i wasnt.. waiting :)
i was satisfied then, just got a good job. now i just think im running, trying to get somewhere all the time. cant see myself stopping for the next few years :)
i think 26 will be the next landmark! my parents will freak if im not married by then u see :D

Wanderer said...

very spooky the way your story parallels mine - including the marriage by 26 part!!

cathatfished said...

well i think its pretty much Everyone's story :)
running running.. na?
i was just trying to say that i didnt agree with your.. timetable :P
16 - i was just a nut then, obsessing over BOYS :D
18 - nah.. no ambition then, just loving college and feeling independent
21 - expectations: from myself, oh dear yes!! and finally, finally ambition..
24 - maturity: u think? i dont think i'll be mature even then!
and i think the responsibilities will start hitting at 26 :(
so.. :)

cathatfished said...

and HEY!! if you have the all nighter on your blogroll (which surprised me! u dont indicate being an ibanking monkey anywhere on ur blog..!)
then u will like this too..
http://www.leveragedsellout.com/

its hilarious :)