Happy Birthday to Me
35 is finally here. The last few weeks have been rougher than usual on me. Between job worries (no, we don't have to move to San Francisco anymore), family health concerns and life in general, I've had a lot of internal stress that I didn't readily identify. Last week, I figured out I was a news junkie on the downhill slope towards 40.
Every night I'd come home stressed from what I thought was the hour (each way) commute. But last week I realized that I spend way too much time keeping up with the news: 2 hours / day of talk radio in the car, 15 minutes / day reading the newspaper, 1 hour / day watching news on television, 30 minutes browsing the internet, followed by another 30 bedtime minutes of non-fiction reading. That's way too much time to figure out what's happening in the world.
Last Wednesday, I turned it all OFF. I started listening to only music on the commute and practiced deep (diaphragm) breathing in the car. Man, that made a difference. I arrive at work and home totally relaxed. Plus, it gives me much more time to think about life in general, rather than worrying if the current reporter or pundit is properly fair and balanced :-) But there was still something else...
Didn't think about it until I got the news out of my life, but I was almost 35 and what did I know how to do? What was I good at? Was it too late to learn something new? Was I stuck for the rest of my life with my what skills (or lack of) that I currently had?
So I came upon the idea of learning something new -- not programming, not painting, but bass guitar. I've fiddled with the guitar off and on for years, but never really was any good. But with the bass, what's not to like? Two fewer strings, no chords and fewer solos. Plus, I love all the riffs, from Nirvana to Rage Against the Machine. Seems like a much better idea, learning to play a musical instrument rather than overdosing on the news.
So today I'm 35. Drove by Guitar Center on the way home from work last night and picked up an amp and a new bass guitar. A birthday present to my self, to ease my pre mid-life crisis.
P.S. If you're learning a musical instrument, the internet is an invaluable resource. Want to learn how to play your favorite song -- no problem, bass or guitar. Want free lessons with midi examples -- no problem, the internet has you covered.