What shouldn't you be doing at 38?

In One Day (2009), David Nicholls answers:

"It would be inappropriate, undignified, at 38, to conduct friendships or love affairs with the ardour or intensity of a 22 year old. Falling in love like that? Writing poetry? Crying at pop songs? Dragging people into photobooths? Taking a whole day to make a compilation tape? Asking people if they wanted to share your bed, just for company? If you quoted Bob Dylan or TS Eliot or, god forbid, Brecht at someone these days they would smile politely and step quietly backwards, and who would blame them? Ridiculous, at 38, to expect a song or book or film to change your life."

[Disclaimer: The above does not represent my view -- don't shoot the messenger!] [I am not yet 38.] [I chose the picture because I mistook "photobooths" for "phonebooths".] [I do quote Eliot, quite often. For example, here, here and here.]

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