a meditation on sixteen

What is it that makes 16 the magical age? Is it the prospect of driving? Is it the notion of increased responsibility that will inevitably follow through to adulthood? Is it the concept of ever inching towards adulthood? These are questions that I have pondered from the time I turned 15 until yesterday, when I, at great last, turned 16. I tried to come up with suitable answers, but found that I could not come up with one. Sixteen is such and arbitrary number to be chosen for such a great responsibility as driving. I would have thought more science would have gone into the choosing of such an age where childhood comes to an end and the long and winding road of life truly begins. For it will truly be long and winding, filled with unexpected bumps and forks along the way, eventually and hopefully ending up exactly where it is supposed to go; the culmination of a productive and meaningful life. Then that notion gives way to what truly makes up a productive and meaningful life? Are the standards brought up through society? Must everyone measure up or be deemed a failure and wasted life? Many people may have differing concepts of what the ideal life actually entails. For me, the ideal life is one that ends in me accomplishing my goals, being a parent and watching my children grow up, and attaining a level of wisdom that allows me to give advice when necessary and hold my tongue when appropriate. First, I strive to become a writer. It is the one thing that I have found in my sixteen years of life that I can honestly say I am good at. While running the risk of sounding a little egotistical, I love the way I write both poetry and prose. It makes me truly happy and provides a great outlet for all of the emotions that are bottled up inside of me. Through the written word I am able to express thoughts and ideas that cannot truly be spoken. Writing is a window into the soul and through that window you are able to see every flaw and every strength, every emotion and feeling. Sentences become the panes of glass comprising the greater window that allows for this sight. It is through writing that nations are made and destroyed, it expresses opinions and ideas, and it affects people's lives every day. Something so strong comes out of something so simple, and that is why I feel the need to become a writer. To be a parent is pretty much the meaning of life. We are placed her to repopulate, just as our parents and their parents before them. I can only speculate as to the joy experienced through parenthood. Watching something that is fundamentally half of you grow up and mature must be the ultimate happiness. This is a feeling that I have yet to experience, but strongly wish to in the future. In our society, not a great deal of stress is put upon wisdom. In today's world, it is extremely hard to get anywhere unless you have a college degree and a great deal of intelligence. In the days of our forefathers, many men were not formally educated, yet they produced some of the most influential and ingenious writings in all of history. They were not smart by today's standards, but they were wise. They knew what had to be done and they were able to see what had to be done. Wisdom is something that I hope to attain, not just for my own benefit, but for the benefit of the people around me. If somebody needs advice, I want to be able to help and not just stare at their various problems blindly. To achieve wisdom is to achieve greatness. Greatness in the eyes of others is nice, but in order to truly be great, you have to be able to face yourself in the mirror everyday. The Buddha once said, "Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." I think that for now, that is exactly what I am going to do.