All cultures celebrate rites of passage marking coming of age and other significant life transitions…walkabouts and vision quests come to mind. Here in the U.S., we baby boomers have experienced a wealth of our own cultural ceremonies and celebrations — bar or bat mitzvahs, quinceañeras, Sweet Sixteens, graduations, weddings, baby showers, birthdays, and retirement parties. Some rites of passage may be acknowledged more privately, like coming out and transitioning. Think back and pick one of your own rites of passage…did the experience bring about a noticeable shift in your way of looking at life? Was it what you expected, better, worse, or just different? How did it affect the rest of your life? Share your rites of passage stories forward. Start Writing