The Burning Age

I am wondering what to do. The recent times have been very hectic. Not on the professional front though. All personal ones. It’s just another Saturday today and another of my unfruitful weekends. Talking about ‘unfruitful’ periods is so relative. The meaning has changed substantially. A men’s life has so many phases and the transformation happens without you actually understanding the change. Suddenly one day, you look at yourself and feel the change. See the other You.

Let’s me categorise men’s life into few stages. The first being the Mama’s Boy stage, age being 5-15. The boy lives his life, but under the strict guidance of his parents. His sole aim in life is to wind up his homework and be there at the playground as soon as possible. Some smart one end up spending time near the girl’s schools and the smartest ones behind them. Then come the Sudden Independence Phase, age being 16-23. This is the stage where you suddenly smell independence. The jail inmates are let loose. Some loose track. The smart ones are the one who lose their track and somehow work it hard to reach back to the road. The really smart ones are the ones who intentionally lose their track, wander around, think through and finally create their own roads to wisdom. The phase starts with getting into a good school and ends with getting out with a good job. The search for ‘good’ begins right here. Next is the Golden Age, 24-26. Nobody questions you nor do you answer anyone. You have the most powerful weapon all for yourself, the Money. You spend it at your whims and fancies. A large part of it is dedicated to good food, good wines and good women. All these turn out to be basic necessasities. You spoil yourself to Glory.

Boom Boom. The golden age disappears and what begins is the R’ age, 27-30. You suddenly feel the weights around. The weights of career, Money and Marriage. You feel burdened. Helpless. You wonder whats wrong. Why suddenly is the junta asking you to be responsible and take decisions. Peer pressure further adds to miseries. You get screwed for not taking a decision and for not scaling up. You are made to feel Responsible.

Welcome folks to the Burning Age. Age that makes you burn to glory to die to Ashes.

P.S: The rest will follow with experience. I hope the burning stops and the cooler wind lie ahead of me. Amen.