Age

I'm proud to say that I still haven't felt many pangs of crossing over to the "old" side. The world is slowly becoming a place where common sense is being replaced by whatever is making the most noise. I was especially struck when I asked my son to help a lady much older with something and he asked why. I wanted to say that she's much older and needs the help. Knowing what I might hear from him, I said "When you see someone with gray hair help them" and he immediately shot back with "Mom, its rude to call someone old". I didn't know which corner on earth I should go to.

The reality is that we are conditioned by media about always looking and feeling young. We don't want anyone to call us old. Old is no longer a place where you could demand respect for the life you have already lived. It has become a word which means one step closer to the grave. Growing up, getting old was a way to be better respected, it meant you had lived and learned. I've had kids about 5-6 years younger than me call me "Aunty" in the traditional nature of conversations in the culture I am from because I am friends with their parents. This has not bothered me but when a peer has asked me my age and gives a smirk, it bothers me a whole lot more. I often wonder about that. I think it is the influence of my surrounding where "old" is not that great place to be and the fact that I constantly hear "I'm not that old".

Having said all that, I am young at heart. If you ask me what age I feel I'm at, I would say "college" age. I think I am kind of stuck there mentally. My hubby is the kind of person who couldn't care less what people thought of what I do, so that prevents my "maturing" process I think.

All said and done, I don't think there is anything wrong in wanting to be young, to look good and feel good. I would personally hate to hang out with anyone who uses age as an excuse to talk about all kinds of aches and pains. I love challenging thoughts and opinions and would rather have a healthy discussion with anyone - young or old. The different perspectives are so interesting.

I love Mark Twain's quote about age and try to love by it -

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

--Mark Twain