Many Parts

You know you're at an interesting place when you start thinking, "what have I really done with my life?" Usually it means you are dissatisfied or bored with the current state of things, which is how I've been feeling and why I asked the question.

As I thought about the answer, Shakespeare's line "And one man in his time plays many parts" kept popping into my head. I wondered how many and what kinds of parts have I played and if they amounted to anything?
 

I was hoping to find that one really cool achievement. Something that would make me feel instantly better. It turns out, there isn't one. No one thing jumped out at me, but taken as a whole I started to see a different picture of my life emerging, one that is more diverse and balanced than I usually notice.

So what have I been so far? This...

Actor, Adjutant, Adult, Altar boy, Apple picker, Aquarius, Archer, Artist, Author

Babysitter, Best man, Blood Donor, Board member, Book reviewer, Boyfriend, Boy Scout, Brides' man, Brigade major, Brother

Captain, Caterer, Child, Citizen, Class president, Coach, Competitor, Cook, Corporal, Counselor, Coworker, Curator, Custom framer, Customer

Date, Dancer, Delivery guy, Director, Donor, Driver, Drunk

Eagle Scout, Editor, Enemy, Eulogizer, Ex-

Fan, Fencer, Fiancee, Friend

Grandson, Golfer, Godfather, Godson, Groomsman

Historian, Historical consultant, House painter, House sitter

Intern, Insider

Janitor, Juggler

Lieutenant, Lifeguard, Loser, Lover

Male, Manager, Member, Mentee, Mentor, Model

Nephew

Opponent, Organizer, Outsider

Pall bearer, Passenger, Patient, Patron, Private

Racquetball player, Reenactor, Runner

Salesman, Scout master, Sergeant, Sleeper, Son, Stage crew, Storyteller, Stranger, Student, Supervisor, Supporter, Swimmer

Tailor, Taxpayer, Teacher, Teammate, Tenant, Tour guide, Tourist, Traveler

Uncle

Winner

Thinking about all of this has settled my agitation about where I've been, but it hasn't left me any calmer about where I'm headed. Which is OK so long as "deceased" doesn't make it on the list any time soon.