To be or what to be, that is the question.

I have been thinking a  lot lately about what I want to be when I grow up. It’s probably because I have a birthday coming up and it is about time I made up my  mind - about what I want - “to be." I started to research the question. 

I called my older brother, Norman, and asked, “Norman what do you want to be when you grow up?” He replied, “An airline pilot.” I asked, “What is holding you up?” He replied,” I am 83.” Age does get in the way of some  dreams. 

I asked my son, David, the same question. He replied, “A doctor.” David is 24. I asked my grandson, Ryan, the same question. He replied,” A superstar soccer player.” Ryan is 14. I asked myself the same question. I replied,” I do not know.” I will be 69 soon. There is a wonderful warm and secure feeling about knowing what you want to be. 

Unfortunately, at some stage in life, we stop dreaming of what we want to be and that is a crying shame. However, despite a reduced set of "to be" options with age, there is, or at least there should be, a wiser selection process. Years ago, the "to be" options included fireman, airline pilot, football player, but now with wisdom, we can add, helpful, generous, better father, better husband and a few others that did not come up as often as possible, earlier.  Before concluding my "to be" research, I asked a parent what he wanted his children to be? The parent replied, “ to be happy.” 

I am going to spend some quality time today contemplating what I want be when I grow up. What do you want to be?