One of the many joys of working in the newspaper business (if you are fortunate to have your own column) is the therapeutic benefits you get from unloading all your emotions, feelings and concerns out onto your keyboard and, eventually, to your readers.</p><p>It&#x92;s cheaper than therapy (although most journalists could use both written and human treatment) and often is cathartic in nature.</p><p>Please know, I am not about to complain about turning 38 earlier this week. It happens. In a lot of ways, I couldn&#x92;t avoid it.</p><p>The deal I made with my Lord and Savior to edge into my upper 30s while showing nary a sign of gray or thinning hair has held true.</p><p>And trust me, I add that to my list of &#x93;thanks&#x94; in my prayers each night.</p><p>Things are beginning to happen at 38, though, that worry and concern me. Perhaps some of that is a symptom of being a new dad.</p><p>I sometimes think about my own vulnerabilities now &#x96; something I rarely did in my early 30s and never in my 20s.</p><p>I occasionally even go into that dark place where I think something bad may happen on an icy road or while climbing a ladder in my back yard, thus rendering me unable to take care of my infant daughter. That probably has more to do with an irrational fear than age, though.</p><p>My late 30s have caused me to feel a little more back pain during the hours and hours of leaf raking and bagging. And I will be darned if I don&#x92;t think about taxes, my 401(k) and how I have been working and paying into Social Security since age 15 and what, if anything, I will ever see out of that.</p><p>In the midst of thinking about what 38 means, I decided I need to take inventory on what still connects me to my youth.</p><p>I still like the music turned up, whether it&#x92;s Miles Davis and his irrefutable classic Kind of Blue, The Who, The Doors or some Stevie Ray Vaughan. Music instantly makes me feel better and I almost have to remind myself to turn off the banter when I am in my car and put on some tunes.</p><p>Although I don&#x92;t play as much as I used to, I still think I can zip around the softball field and will continue to in 2012.</p><p>Chasing Addy around the living room is certainly something that will keep me youthful. Of course, then I realize she will be a teenager in a dozen years and then I will age in dog years I&#x92;m afraid. Again, I have nothing to complain about at 38.</p><p>I tend to mock my older friends much less these days, am more pensive about the prior year and am likely to both be more adamant and more forgiving about certain things. Age is just a number, right? That is, until my daughter figures out how &#x93;old&#x94; her dad really is.</p><p><i>John Beaudoin is the publisher of the Lee&#x92;s Summit Journal. To comment, call 816-282-7001 or e-mail jbeaudoin@lsjournal.com</i>