MonuMental

We’re at an age where some people are commenting on being too old in regards to something or make a remark on another person who’s younger than the bunch.
At our house it’s bit of a retired argument in a lot of ways, but there’s a bit of perspective that just revolutionized my interest in persuading those against feeling too old, too ahead of time.
I’ll refrain entirely from the truth that “age is a state of mind” for this one.
When I look at pictures from this weekend and see so many adults having totally wicked, entirely wholesome fun, my mind jumps to visions of when my parents or my aunts & uncles would talk about the fun things they used to do. Back when they we’re always at the lake on the weekend during the Summer, or camping in Hatteras. Back when there was a Camptown Race every year to go to. They always talked about these times being some of the best years of their lives. The picture is certainly that of someone’s hay-day.
Then it hit me that this was when they were our age. My sister and I were kids, so my parents would have been in their 30’s back when we were hanging around different places trying to behave while they carried on with their friends. It made me think we’re living in those times right now and don’t even realize it.
I don’t hear most people I know really talk about getting older with this go ahead and stop trying, why go out and act up, how dare she try and wear that at her age, kinds of mentality. So maybe some of us aren’t spending time dwelling on not being 19 or 20 still.
Keep in mind, no matter what, we’ll never be 19 or 20 again. But would you really want to be? Would you rather trade your last vacation and well-needed break from the norm for staying out late tonight and getting up early to take an exam? I rather be here and no than anywhere, any time else.
I think nowadays things are better than the last decade. Better than college. Better than high school. My friends have meant more to me since the early 2000’s when I cleaned shop and got rid of all the people who caused me problems and were more of a drag than they were fun. My understanding of life and times and the meaning of it all I think grows each year. I’m personally more and more in touch with myself and accepting my accomplishments along with my room to grow. Now is hot you guys. Now is what’s in.
I don’t think all the stories our parents and the friends of the family love to talk about were tainted with worries about being too old to do what they were doing or whether or not they looked like adults trying to hang on to their youth.
I wish everybody had the experience to spend so much time with seniors and the elderly that I did between ’02 and ’11, because I was privy to all kinds of conversations and situations that influenced one’s perspective on age. To try and act, or make yourself seem “old” at 30 around them was insane. They remember themselves at 30 and talk of it like it was their childhood still. All kinds of different people have told me their best days started in their 40’s. My mom would tell you she’s loving her 50’s a lot of days.
Doesn’t that make it seem like there’s no use in worrying about being 30-something? Not only because time is inevitably going to keep moving forward, and we’ll continue getting older by the day, but also because you’re missing out on what beauty is being offered to you as you stand in the here and now. Worrying about the person next to you having the energy you use to have, or being able to maintain their body image more easily than we can now – all of it’s just rubbish thinking. A Buddhist would say these are poisonous thoughts, and things we have control over if we decide we want to change from that way of thinking.
I think a lot of times we want to be younger “just because”. And obviously theres no substance in the desire; even those who want to most won’t ever get the chance to “go back”.
So whenever you’re having that anxious moment where you’re totally fixated on the age you “are” as a problem because you’re no longer the age you “were”, try and remember what you have. And even if there are a few things that are nicer or easier about being that age, there’s probably not much you would enjoy, the way you think you would, if you were back there.
Besides, if all that were true it would be such a “downer” of a conversation.
This is all part of my Feel Good To Be You campaign because, I’m really on your side.