Thoughts in the Aftermath of a Silly Online Quiz

Some months ago, in a moment of weakness, I succumbed to the most frivolous of digital temptations: a silly online "quiz." No, this was not some examination designed to test my knowledge of world geography, or to measure my understanding of obscure facts in the Star Wars universe. Rather, this quiz purported to reveal secrets about the nature of my personality based solely on - wait for it - what shapes most appeal to me. I've seen different versions of this from various team building seminars, but this particular one appeared to be even less scientific (if that is possible). There were some 20 questions, almost all of which asked me to select an image from a group that most appealed to me. I know you are anxiously awaiting the big reveal, so here it is (in part):

You are most often drawn to shapes that include rectangles, and this makes you the Explorer. You seek adventure and new experiences, and yet sometimes lack the funds or guts to make it happen. You are inquisitive by nature, and courageous too. You are naturally supportive of your loved ones and have tremendous strength and foresight. For those of you that take the risk, and go forth and travel, you love to get to know other cultures and people on your journeys. Explorers have a passion for knowledge, and like to converse with people from all walks of life. You seek harmony and balance in your endeavors, and thrive most when you are able to juggle risk and reward to your benefit. Curious, dependable, determined, and spirited, that is you.

Ah, behold the revelation of my true self, exposed by the selection of images that contain rectangles, above those with squares, circles, triangles, and abstract mishmashes of shapeless colors. Look at me, the Explorer! I am sure that when people see me, or think of me, "Explorer" is naturally the very first thing that comes to mind. Yeah.

Silly online quiz … probably exists only to collect personal data in some way to further enhance or exploit my "digital footprint" to the benefit of somebody else, or to sell me hiking boots.

But I must admit, these results have made me think. My 45th birthday is mere months away, and I have been pondering what to do differently, if anything, with the second half of my life. I've considered going back to school for a Master's degree, as well as the possibility of a career change, but have come to the initial conclusion that right now, I have neither the funds nor the guts to pursue either. In the near term, I'll probably have to settle for picking up a new hobby. Writing online quizzes, for example.

I do wish, sometimes, that I was that Explorer. I was as a child, at least in my imagination. Those days are mostly gone now. But the idea still flickers, deep down, I think, for whenever I give in to this navel-gazing introspection, a snippet of an old John Denver song plays in my mind:

Come dance with the west wind and touch on the mountain tops.
Sail o'er the canyons and up to the stars.
And reach for the heavens and hope for the future
and all that we can be, and not what we are.

I suppose, this is one facet of being an Explorer: reaching for Heaven, hoping for the Future, and looking toward all that we can be, and not just what we are today. I cannot begin to explain how this one verse in an old song speaks to me. Maybe, just maybe, it is confirming that long buried idea that I really can be more like this Explorer character.

Or maybe it just means I like rectangles.