Mark at 39

Usually for my birthday, I recount some story with accompanying photos. For some reason this year (and it seems the last couple), I'm coming up empty.


Great Scott! The end of my 30's are approaching!
A quick costume change and I'm ready to save the world!
I've wondered about this and I think that my reason for not recounting something is that I'm slowly learning to live in the present instead of the past.

Turning 39 today is a bit unnerving. It's my last year in the thirties. I think when people think of folks in their 30's, they're still viewed as having some sort of "young adult" properties. This can be both good and bad, depending on the situation. I think people 40 and over are looked at as more authority figures, while those in the 30's are viewed as still having much to learn. It's all about appearances as it really depends on the person if the stereotype holds true or not.

I think everyone has a few things in life that they hope to have done by a certain age. I have a lot of what I love at this age and a few things, some life-changing, that seem to have yet occur. If you had asked me ten years ago if I would have had them by now, I would have guessed that I would. I don't feel that I'm necessarily behind, but rationalize that these things just haven't presented themselves yet. Logically, it gives me something to look forward to.

So at 39, I'm working on grace. Accepting the losing of the hair, the silver in my beard (and my chest hair), and hoping I can get a decent body through working out. I think it's called growing up. I'm still working on that a bit, but not completely convinced it's worthwhile.

After all, how many people my age still dream of being a superhero?