Ethan Hawke

I feel a desire to work.

I don't know if you feel that, but I feel I'm aware of how much of the road has already been walked, and I'm very conscious of... I find myself often thinking, how old was Jeff Bridges when he did True Grit?

Am I older than him now?

Am I younger than him?

How old was Peter Weir when he directed Dead Poets Society?

I'm older than he was now.

I thought he was an old man.

I'm very aware of how many more years I might have to contribute, and I don't like wasting time anymore.

I'm very aware of how many people mentored me and cared for me, and am I doing that for others?

Am I meeting my responsibilities as a citizen, not just as a father, which is obvious and omnipresent in my life?

Those questions are on my mind all the time.

Then there's this other voice, which is, am I enjoying my life?

Because I do want to enjoy it, too.

And how much of this work that I'm obsessed with is eroding my sense of play and joy and spontaneity and living and being in the moment.

And it is strange.

The older you get, I have no awareness of wisdom.

I only have awareness of how many things I thought I understood that I don't understand.

And more questions come in the door.

And that's kind of exciting.

What do you think?