Do Numbers Determine Age?
69The other day I posted a favourite childhood tune on Facebook, and was surprised at some of the reactions to it. A couple of friends rued the fact that I was ‘dating’ myself by admitting to such nostalgia, and interestingly both were male. None of the women who commented on the tune with such enthusiasm seemed worried about revealing how ‘nearly decrepit’ they were. And then they say it’s women who want to propagate the fantasy of eternal youth!
Why wouldn’t I want to admit my age, especially on Facebook where almost everyone on my friend list knows how old I am anyway! The few that I don’t know in real life are all from Hub Pages and if they have been reading my hubs, they’ve probably figured out that it’s been a long while since I was in my twenties or even thirties. So, if I post a tune that was last popular in the 1960s, I’m not likely to shatter any myths about my age.
Why are we so preoccupied with age? In my head I’m still stuck somewhere in my mid-20s (or younger, depending on whom you ask). The passing years add digits to my age, and some tell-tale signs to my body, but largely my mind remains unaffected by the passage of time. As far as I’m concerned other people are ageing, while I’m just having another, usually happy, birthday!
This year several people in my immediate and extended orbit have or will turn 50 and I’ve been watching their reactions to this ‘milestone’ with interest. My husband treated his birthday as just another day, preferring not to make a big deal of it. When pressed by family and friends for some sort of ‘celebration’ he said he was deferring it to when he turned 75! When you think about it, perhaps 75 is the new 50.
My sister has a far greater sense of occasion and while she only had a small family celebration, it was not for want of trying. She lives in another state and most of her friends are thousands of miles away. If she were closer, I am sure she would have brought in her 50th birthday in style. Milestones are important to her, something she inherited from my father, whose own 50th birthday party was suitably memorable. He didn’t live to see too many other milestones, passing away just a couple of months short of his 70th birthday but he’d already begun planning the party with his customary enthusiasm.
I still have a few years before I turn 50 and I can’t predict how I will react then; in all probability it will be just another occasion to eat chocolate! I’m quite sure reaching that particular milestone is not going to miraculously change my basic nature. A few more candles on my cake aren’t going to add a sudden gravitas to my mien or temper my scatterbrained ways. I doubt I will remember to ever ‘act my age’, even if my behaviour, beliefs and attitudes at the time cause acute embarrassment to younger friends and relatives with their own preconceived notions of how someone at that advanced stage of life ought to behave and think.
Take my advice – stop stressing about age. It’s just another number. And there’s always going to be someone older than you are!
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That's a great way to look at ageing! Thanks for reading, Ritu! :)
I saw the Facebook comments about dating yourself and it made me smile as the the thought didn't occur to me! I tend to just enjoy the FB interactions in a lighthearted or inspirational way. I am already in my 50's and I skip over speed bumps in the park while holding Phil's hand. I feel great in so many ways that I wouldn't dare act my age. :)
Marie, may you always remain young at heart, and happy about it! :)
I quite agree with you FP. As a reason to throw a party and have a blast, the 50th birthday is not a bad excuse. But, I was a bit like Anselm ... realised it was my 50th only when the kids brought out the cake!
Age is really just a number. I know people in their 50s and 60s who appear and behave older than others in their 70s. And I also see golfers well into their 80s, playing a reasonably good game, getting into all the rough and climbing in and out of bunkers despite having two artificial knees.
What's important is to stay young at heart and in the mind ... and to enjoy all the fun and frolic the world has to offer during our journey here.
“Know thy self” was the dictum of my ancestors, all of whom tried very hard to go against it with some considerable success. In my case though, I actually live by this and knowing who I am, how could I possibly advertise the fact that I was born by giving birthday parties?
I am with you on this one FP. Those who don’t like it, let them eat cake ;-))
Bette Davis said it first, FP, "Old Age Ain't for Sissies" (see the great age quotes on my hub of the same name).
I could not agree with you more on your well-written and delightful approach to aging - it's way, way better than the alternative! As a survivor of the Pleistocene Age, I know whereof I speak. You're just a baby, girl - enjoy life and dark chocolate...... with nuts!
Rated up of course.
Just party on and enjoy life!! Who cares about numbers!!
I was one of those who commented on that tune you posted and I read the exchange between you and the guys.:)
I would be one of those in your orbit who are touching 50 shortly.The last birthday I celebrated was when I was 21 and was told that I now held the key to life. 50, I felt was another great age to bring out the wine and celebrate what I feel are going to be the really good times.
They say women go in reverse when they hit their 40's and remain at a certain age for years to come. However, I think this is a new gen which revels in growing older especially when it brings like what Ritu said- freedom with it and to pull age on some strapping youngster when one wants to :P
I am totally agree with you. I think that growing old is wonderful and, do not forget, in any case inevitable. Therefore why do not accept it?
The maturity in useful also to become more " infantile". I mean that the maturity allows us to understand better and with more awareness what is fun for us, what make us happy. Our sense of humor can increase, along with the irony and the self-irony.
And , it is true, a number is only a number. It is only a label, is a useless preconception.
Thanks for sharing this Hub!!
Jaspal - May you always enjoy the journey! :)
DG - Let them eat cake indeed! :D
drbj - Pleistocene Age, huh? Did they have chocolate back then? :D
Jade - That's great advice! :)
Diana - Have a blast on your 50th and long after that! :)
Fucsia - I love the idea of being mature enough to be infantile! :)
Thank you all for reading and commenting. May you never give the number in your life more attention than it deserves!
Time just did a number on me ! I was told I was a year older!
I keep wondering if I am born with a manufacturing defect that doesn't allow me "to act my age" !
The grey in my hair has certainly not added any "maturity" to my demeanor !
Besides Life is for living ... why live it with the fear of your days/years being numbered !!
If grey was an indication of maturity I would be very ripe indeed! :D
You have the right attitude to life, Shubha. Thanks for reading!
In an era of people obsessed with staying and looking young and going to extremees of expense and surgery it is always nice to listen and read the voice of reason.
My only problem with age is how much time I wasted thinking I would live forever but in my mind I am not old and I refuse to act my age... Why should I ? Why should any of us ?
More power to your elbow for pointing out how much better our music was back then...
Another Great Hub, FP. :)
As you say, numbers really don't matter at the end of the year!...Age resides in the mind after all, and if you don't mind , it doesn't matter!
Life is all about the (dual)Experience...what goes up, must come down...so make the most of every second on Earth...it's worth it!
Wishing you many happy returns of each day, FP! :)
I like that comment of Merlin's - how much better our music was back then. At least the lyrics were understandable then. Now I definitely know I am dated. :p
Merlin, no doubt about it - music back then was pretty timeless! And Diana thinks so too! :)
Rashmi, thank you! :)
If you are 20-something "in your head" that's all that matters! As for milestones, I'd rather celebrate a real personal achievement. In this day and age, reaching 50 is childs play.
So you're not even 50 yet. Geez, that's young.
As one who will NEVER act her age, I can say amen to all the above....you are always and truly only as young as you feel and I plan on feeling young for a long time (although I will be 58 this year)...sigh. Not sure how that even happened but I have the tire tracks I guess to prove it. And lastly, I think it is wise to grow old because in all reality....it beats the alternative!
Green Lotus, you are a wise lady! :)
Jeff, it's all a matter of perspective! :D
Audrey, you are an inspiration to us all! :)
Thank you all for reading!
Age ain't nothing but a number! You're as young as you feel! Be proud of every wrinkle because it represents experience. And should you ask my age, I'll admit to being 29 for the umpteenth time (lol). Great hub. Thank you for sharing...
C-Bless, 29 is as good a number as any! :)
Listen young lady, however fast you age, you'll never catch up with me! Wanna bet?
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Haha, quicksand, I see you found the simple version this time! :D
So, how old are you anyway? :))
adding years to our life means more experiences and more things to share with others. growing old but staying young at heart is a wonderful way of adding years to our life.
How true, midnightbliss! Thanks for stopping by! :)
Ageing is actually caused by the mind. Remember the mind is the master? Well the mind permits time to pass through it and in the process, the metabolism succumbs appropriately and the rest of the system duly complies. This results in changes in the skin, changes in the pigmentation associated with the hair follicles, unstable memory and all the other things we are conditioned to believe happens.
One way of preventing this is, to disallow time to use the mind as a refractive medium. The only problem that I foresee here is that if you somehow manage to accomplish this, you will be seeing only stills!!!
:)___________________________________________________:)
quicksand, can we have the simpler version of that comment, please? :D
Just kidding!! That's an interesting observation. How do I work on preventing time from passing through my mind? And do I really want to?
No FelineProphetess, you don't really want to. Stills will bore you to wanting to get back into motion. Besides, why should you, when you can always start afresh (from zero) when nature hits the re-start button!
Unless of course you are a highly evolved person ... in which case you would be a celestial author ... and only celestial beings will be able to comment on your writings!!!
'...when nature hits the restart button'...I like that! :)
ahaaha i just loveeeee the solidarity amongst the over forties.Look at how everyone has rallied behind you to say age does not matter.as long as we keep this society closed to those that are ACTUALLY young i guess we can go on being happy.I only wake up when the lissom lass i have been viewing turns round to call me uncle and also realise that the only lasses that will accept my admiration with gratitude are over 75!!!
but reverting to the comforting fiction-Of courseeee age does not matter FP.and yes, last week when we met you did look - well-errr- i mean- just as young as- youknowwhatimean-young as -well as when you wer actually young.
but yes you are aging gracefully- only if you would accept that!!!!!!!
neelesh, thank you for the thumbs up! :D
Hi FP,
I share with you, even though I am older, the mindset of a person still in their late teens or early 20s. I never think of myself as old, with the exception that my body tells me otherwise :)
My mind is still very young, and I have been known to shock some of the younger generations with things I've said or shared. Their reactions were priceless. It was like a lightbulb went on over their heads as they voiced, wow, you aren't really old LOL. To this day, in fact as recently as last week, I had the pleasure to go to a party, where I found my niece who I haven't seen in a long time. She shared with me that I am still and always will be her favorite aunt. The sweet thing about that is, is that's how many of my nieces and nephews still feel about me. It is great fun to hear of their rememberances of time spent with me.
So, do numbers determine age? Perhaps in body, but not so much in minds :)
Good to see you, trish! I like to think I am a favourite aunt too! :)
Seriously, it does the young nieces and nephews good to realise that they're not the only ones who ever saw youth. :D
Hi FP,
You're so right. The saying 'youth is wasted on the young' rings true :)
I don't know why it's so hard for the younger generation to realize we too were once children. Eventually, they do get it.
By which time they're not so young anymore! :D
Hi, I totally agree with you! I must admit that when I turned 40, I went into a fit of the sulks! lol it took me a few days to get back into the swing of things, but as I went on holiday straight after I had a good time and forgot about it! when I hit 50 I just tried to ignore it!
That's the best revenge, Nell - to ignore age! Thanks for reading! :)
Feline Prophet. Hi. Loved your numbers game, and are with you all the way.
I don't mind being a senior at all, sometimes(not too often)you get away with things, that maybe you should not.:)
But as long as you are fit and healthy,what the heck what ever number you are.
I don't need an excuse to eat chocolate, that's what I have for supper every night.
Thanks for sharing with us, It was a fabulous read.Voted up,up. :) :)
oliversmum, how nice to see you! Thank you for voting this up...and may you never run out of chocolate! :)
This is such a good hub, Feline. And the comments are "ageless". I am older than all of you, but still feel and act like I'm in my 20's. Yes, I am blessed with good genes, but I also am a vegetarian, exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep. And I laugh out loud every day!
I found this hub delightful, lol. Is delightful a nondescript and overused word? Well, I do not use it often, so I am using it now! I am ten years older than you and I do not feel any qualms about telling folk! I am proud I have survived to this point in my life. When people say, "You don't look 58," I say, "Well, this is what 58 looks like!" LOL. Have a great day.
It's the laughter that keeps you young, vocalcoach! All the other good habits probably help of course! Thanks for stopping by! :)
Storytellersrus, I love the word 'delightful' - it evokes a kind of happy, frothy feeling! And if 58 looks like you, I'm looking forward to getting there! :)
My answer is no. I totally believe you are as old as you feel! ..it is only a number.
Good article ..thanks for the thoughts.
Good to see you, gjcody - it's been ages! I'm sure all that aloe vera makes you feel very young indeed! :)
as most have agreed, age is nothing but a number .. it's all in the heart and mind .. awesome hub! ~ m
Thank you, happy mummsy. It's only a number indeed, and too much effort to count! :)
your only as young as the person your feeling at the time.so age means nothing . its whats is in the heart.
Well said, zumba man! :)
I don't mind growing old. But I wish the aches and pains didn't have to come with it. Lol.
Just ignore the aches and pains, Paddyboy60! Thanks for reading! :)
Phoenixritu 12 months ago
Growing old is wonderful. It is freedom. It is a lot of memories that one can visit, and if one does not like something, one can easily forget. It one does not like someone, one can easily ignore the person (and pretend that one had forgotten one's specs) and affect deafness to get out of following instructions
I like being 50+