BIRTHDAY BIRTHDAY...

BIRTHDAY BIRTHDAY BIRTHDAY

More people are willing to hire me in positions of responsibility
My parents treat me a little less like a child
My hair has cool silver strands in it
My students treat me with more respect
Sometimes I don't bother to try to compete with the 18-yr-old bodies
My little sisters ask me for advice
Fewer people ask me what my major is
I have more discipline
Skills accumulate over time
Sometimes I know what I'm talking about when I talk about writing (or teaching, or sex)
I'm not as nervous in bed
I'm more willing to take (reasonable) chances
I have more perspective, so small setbacks aren't as traumatic
I'm also less likely to buy into stupid societal mind games
I enjoy being a geek more and more
I don't feel as much of an imposter when I'm telling people what to do
I'm not nearly as terrified about starting a Ph.D. as I would have been a few years ago
My encroaching mortality makes me savor life more
With each year that passes, I'm more convinced that I'm doing an okay job at this living well idea
I begin to hope that I may actually someday grow wise