Your added age is just another number
Age is just a number, how old are you?
Most of us have heard this famous adage at one time or another in our lives " age is nothing but a number". I have given it an even bigger boost by adding that "you are therefore as old as you make yourself feel".
I believe feeling old is a state of mind. Our age goes up, we panic and start worrying about growing old. Old in years, that's right, but does this have to apply to our perception of life and how we do things? All things being equal, when you age in years, your body tends to age with you. There are parts of your body which undergo wear and tear, because as you grow up in age, your body also undergoes physical changes. This theory to me however is only applicable to the physical. You can choose to be forever young because you are the only one who has control over your mental faculty, granted that good health has to be prevalent. What you think and feel can transcend to your physical being. I'm not claiming to be an expert in the field of ageing and staying young, but the mind is a very powerful tool and the way we feel can be reflected in our physical appearance. When we smile as the saying goes " we can light up a room", however a look of doom and gloom does nothing to lift up the spirit nor the outward appearance of an individual. The choice really is ours, we can choose to play ageing like a game and enjoy its natural course or moan about the fact that we are growing old and not embrace it.
Embrace how old you are.
I have always wondered why people are generally so secretive about their age. What is it about being old or young in age that makes people not want to share this knowledge openly. Its amazing to note that when we are little we never hesitate to tell our old we are. Little children readily say how old they are when asked, whereas as we grow up a question of "how old are you?" is most likely to be followed with a question of "why do you want to know?"
I must admit I used to be like that. I was wary about how old I was becoming and was never one to promptly disclose how old I was. I thought that it was such a private matter that revealing my age would make me feel naked and vulnerable.
My whole perspective on the subject of age disclosure has however changed. I am quick to say I'm 38 years old because I have grown to realise, believe and accept that age is nothing but just a number and that growing old is a state of the mind. I am proud of how old I am because I see ageing as a blessing. It's a fact that age is one of the things that goes up and never comes down, your personality though does not have to age with you. If you want to feel old, you will be old. Appreciate your age and explore life. Don't let ageing stop you from being who you want to be or how much you want to enjoy life.
Celebrate your age, don't keep it a secret.
I have known people who have been mortified and had sleepless nights when they were nearing the milestones of ages 21, 30 and 40. For the life of me I cannot fathom why anymore. "Life begins at forty" they say, surely that should be enough boost for anyone making such a turning point in their life to take the plunge and say "I'm forty and proud." To have another year added to your life is never the end of the world.Trust me it's a blessing, so receive it with gratitude, cherish it like a gift and appreciate the promise of another chance of living. Some people do not live long enough to appreciate life to the full. There are people who die before the age of puberty, some who have not lived long enough to enjoy the fruits of their labour, and others who have not had the pleasure of experiencing the dawn of a new day. We have, so let's hold hands and say; "We are grateful to be alive. We love the age we are at now and do not have a problem with admitting how old we are. Every day, every month and every added year is a blessing, therefore my age is not a secret, but a celebration of my life." Afterall what is it they say? "We only live once."
Take a look at yourself in the mirror, smile and be happy with what you see. Celebrate your age, no matter how old. Count your blessings, name them one by one. Embrace age, embrace life.