Have I grown up yet?

Personal

As I look back at my writings from 20 years ago, I can't help but feel a sense of embarrassment and triviality. The naivety that characterized my thoughts and perspectives seems almost laughable now. It's as if I was living in a different world, one where my understanding of life, relationships, and the complexities of the human experience was limited and superficial.

But perhaps this feeling is not unique to me. Perhaps it's a natural part of the human experience to look back at our past selves with a mixture of amusement and cringing. After all, growth and development are ongoing processes, and what we consider mature and insightful today may very well seem naive and simplistic in another 20 years.

Over the years, I've become much more critical and analytical in my thinking. I've learned to question assumptions, challenge conventional wisdom, and seek out multiple perspectives before forming my own opinions. This has made me more skeptical and cautious, but also more thoughtful and deliberate in my decision-making.

One area where my perspective has changed significantly is in my appreciation of history. In my younger years, I dismissed history as boring and irrelevant, failing to see its connection to the present. But now I understand that history provides valuable context and perspective on current events and challenges. The biggest lessons from history can only ever be understanding just how wrong we were.

Despite all the changes in my thinking and perspective, one thing that has remained constant is my optimism about technology and its potential to solve problems and create innovative solutions. I still believe that technology can be a force for good in the world, and I remain committed to being at the forefront of technological advancement and using it to make a positive impact on the world.

So, have I grown up yet? I suppose that's a question that can never be definitively answered. Growth is an ongoing process, and there's always more to learn and more ways to develop. But what I can say is that I'm a very different person than I was 20 years ago, and I'm excited to see who I'll become in the next 20 years.

Perhaps the real measure of maturity is not whether we've "grown up" in some absolute sense, but whether we're continuing to grow, learn, and evolve. And by that measure, I'd like to think I'm on the right track.