Old old old old old old old old

I am 54 today.

I did nothing to celebrate or observe. I received some cards and one gift.

In medieval China, I've read, a man was expected to 'retire' from daily life when he reached a certain age and devote his intellectual energies to grokking the Tao.

('Grok,' by the way, is in the dictionary that came with my Mac.)

I don't know what that 'certain age' is, but I feel like I must be getting close to it. But I can't afford to retire from daily life unless we win the lottery tonight.

I see that many things once important to me are not so important now – I've mentioned that before. Some of this is because of my own efforts to break the wheel of samsara in my life. But it's also because, as I've gotten older, I've added experience and perspective in deciding what is important and what isn't.

Always looking my best in case I bump into Ms. Perfection? Not so important.

Naps? Important.

Personal branding? So not important.

Making sure the cats get fed? Important.

Thick full hair and blindingly white teeth? No so important.

Regularity? Important. Or at least desirable. Pleasant. 'Fun' would be too strong a word – especially with my feeble low-flush toilet.

Went to the RC tonight, and the place was packed. Mostly with people I didn't know. A family reunion, maybe. I came back home and turned 54 with the Internet.