How long did it take you to get your black belt?

It never fails...at the beginning of each month when the new students start and I corral them into a group to give them an intro to the school and explain to them what they can expect and will be experiencing -- I always finish with, "any questions?" .... and I always get "how long did it take you to get that black belt?"

In a similar post on this site, I talked about a conversation with a Buddhist monk who had a great response to this question. I'm still working on my response. Why? First, I don't want to offend the new student asking. As a new student -- it's their time to ask as many questions as they can, even if they're silly ones. Second, I don't want to scare them off and say it can take 10 years -- because, well, let's face it, anything over a couple of years in their yet untrained minds -- is way too long to consider sticking with anything. And thirdly, I'm not really interested in discussing a very personal journey with someone who is still a stranger.

Lately -- to answer their questions, I've been using the vague answer, shift the topic method. I'll smile and then I tell them it took me years (how many is not their business just yet). Then I'll point out one of the senior black belts and tell them that's he's been studying since 1963 and it took him over 20 years to get his. I'll mention that of course he took a  break during that time period - and then I'll point out a few of our brown belt students that just returned to our class after 20 years -- who are now in the their late 30s/early 40s and who had taken class when they were initially in high school.

I guess this is my attempt of explaining to them in a nice way that "how long" doesn't really matter and is relative anyway. Plus, those types of stories are much more interesting than how many years it took me to earn my black belt. I think the new students agree. 

I'd like to think that they ask me that question because I'm friendly with them and they feel comfortable to do so, and isn't because the shine hasn't quite worn off my belt yet. The next question out of their mouth is then "well, how long does it take to get that yellow belt?" (our school's next rank after white). I just smile and say, about 6 months, but it depends on the person.