I've noticed a new recurring element that's been appearing in my writing lately. Before now, one of the things that came up a lot (“recurring theme” sounds pretentious, but I guess that’s what it is) was the notion of home and how to define it. Lately, though, I’ve been coming up with characters who’ve reached—not a crossroads; more like a mile marker, and they’ve turned around to look behind and take stock of everything that’s happened to them, everything that’s brought them to the point in their lives where I start writing about them, and wondering why it’s taken them so long to get where they are.

I wonder if this is in any way related to turning 40 this month. (Of course, just asking that question implies an answer.)