I'm a hoodlum in my mid-twenties who had a little success with the game as a youngster. After getting bored with it, I drifted from the game and am trying to reclaim (and improve) my former "prowess." Chess, to me, keeps you mentally sharp and it carries over into all walks of life. As per the norm in my life, what I show is not what I am capable of.
"Drop the hourglass of time... spilling sand, we will not find. As we gather here today, we bid farewell -- the slave becomes the master." - Metallica - The End of the Line