Man, You Are Old, Give It Up And Let Us Young People Take Charge- Well, I Say $%$#@%& To That

I. You're NOT Young, YOU'RE..........OLD, Stop Acting Like THAT

Many young people scoff at the idea of older people acting youthfully. They further insist that once people reach a certain age, they should forget their youthful attitudes and/or adventures and start settling into old age. Many young people in their teens and twenties find older people who act young to be a source of amusement, if not scorn.

Such young people believe that the late teens and twenties are periods when people can be exceedingly adventurous, wild, and/or have all the crazy fun possible. They further assert that once people reach their thirties and beyond, it is time to settle down and become more conservative in their pursuits. They believe that those past their twenties who continue to act youthful and pursue youthful dreams are to be pitied. They assert that people reach their thirties and beyond, they should be mature enough to realize that it is time to discard youthful dreams and to enter the real world of grown ups.

II. As One Becomes Older, There is a Realization That Youth Doesn't Necessarily Mean Young

However, many young people change their perception regarding what it means to be old as they become older. They realize that the philosophy that they held in their youth regarding being old was totally and utterly baseless and nonsensical to say the least. As many people approach their forties, fifties, even sixties, they see that youthfulness is not restricted to chronological age. A few even contend that the concept of youthfulness even transcends chronological age.

They refuse to let age preclude from being vital people. They refuse to let their age prevent them from being attractive and romantic. They take interest in their appearance, dressing fashionably and take interest in themselves and the world around them. To them, the notion that person are too old to be attractive, romantic, and/or fashionable is a moot, if not preposterous, issue.

III. Outmoded Ideas Surrounding Old Age STILL Persists

Many younger people erroneously contend that once people get to be THAT age, they should adopt an older persona i.e. being risk averse and unconcerned about living. Young people are not the only ones who believe this way, there are many older adults who accept such a paradigm regarding older people. To them, being old means sitting in a rocking chair, retire from the world, and/or letting younger people take over. There are many people of the thought that old people should get out of the way and let younger people be in charge.

Many old people believe in the paradigm that being old means retirement from the world and becoming uninvolved in the world around them. They insist that they no longer can participate in the activities of their youth because they are of a certain age. If they act exuberant and joyful, they are told by well meaning family, relatives, friends, and/or associates to act their age and settle. In other words, they are told that because of their age, they no longer have anything to offer to society so they should give up on life. They are further informed to live out the remaining parts of their lives in quiet angst, only anticipating death and/or the afterlife.

IV. Old Means Unfashionable, Dowdy

Old people who dress fashionably and sexy are oftentimes derided by people who contend that fashion and sexiness should be the purview of the young. Messages are constantly conveyed that old people should dress "more befitting" of their age. There was one comedian who stated that women over a certain age have no business wearing sexy and stylish attire. This comedian maintained that older women should leave this type of fashion to their daughter and granddaughters. The comedian finally added that old women lived their lives already so they should be content and just settle for the rest of their lives.

Well this philosophy that old people, especially old women, should be matronly and/or dowdy is quite old-fashioned. In the past until the 1970s, there were difference in the mode of dress of young and old people. In the 1970s, it was quite distinctive the way a twenty year old dressed and the way a fifty year old , even a sixty year old would dress. Until recently, there were spoken and unspoken sociocultural expectations as to the type of fashion deemed age appropriate according to a specific age. Older/old people were expected to dress more subdued and/or conservatively than younger/young people who were expected to dress more loudly and/or colorfully. In the past, older/old people who dressed more fashionably were often accused of acting young and not their age.

V. Old Means Asexual

Many people are of the opinion that once one reaches old age, being romantic and/or sexual should be total non-issues. After all, they assert old people have lived their romantic and/or sexual lives; furthermore, romantic and/or erotic feelings belong to the young. In one documentary, a couple in their advanced years stated that their romantic life is quite active and fulfilling. The wife maintained that many young people are amazed, even nonplussed that they are romantic at an advanced stage of life.

Not only young people contend that it is ludicrous for old people to have sexual lives, many old people are of the same opinion. They maintain that once people reach old age, they should no longer be interested in romance, intimacy, and/or sex. They assert that those things belong to the young. With medicine, better nutrition, and exercise, old people have romantic lives, even in their eighties and beyond.

VI. Old Is Unattractive

There is the contention among many people that when people get old, they lose interest in their looks and/or other aspects of their physical appearance. After all, they maintain that being fastidious about one's appearance is a youthful concern and/or occupation because young person have myriad reasons in being attractive whether it is for romantic, personal, and/or career reasons. It is their reasoning that old people are or should be past any personal, romantic,and/or career concerns so being physically attractive is not a priority in their lives.

Older/old people are looking more physically attractive and/or youthful because of advancements in medicine, including preventive and/or corrective care. Being old is no longer an excuse for being physically unattractive. With advancements in medicine, there are also advancements in nutrition. Older/old people are healthier because of these two components. Many remain quite vital until their eighties and beyond. They are taking more scrupulous care of themselves throughout their lives which explains their youthful appearance and vigor. They contend that just because they are old, this is no reason not to be as vital, attractive, smart, and/or adventurous as possible. Unfortunately, many older/old people succumb to the old/unattractive paradigm.

VII. Old Means Can't, No More, NEVER More

Many older/old people contend that since they are old, their lives are behind them. They feel that they should no longer do anything and/or to fully engaged because of their age. They stop learning, growing and start to "act their age." They believe that they are old so they act and/or become old. Remember the adage that a person becomes what he/she thinks about. Well, since these people feel that they are too old to be full participants in this world, they gradually become the worst stereotype of older people. To them, most of their lives are behind them and they are too old to start and/or institute anything new, fresh, and exciting. They become mentally and/or psychologically stale to say the least.

Many older/old people atrophy as a result of succumb to negative age paradigms. They actually become quite resigned regarding being old. They believe that life is only for the young and once people approach old age, the life-script must be more age appropriate. Many people as they get older, transform from being adventurous, daring, and/or curious to settling and being a shell of what they once were. These are the same people who envy the young, wishing for their younger years instead of realizing they are still vital beings. Sadly, these older people become the living dead who are fearful, instead of fully embracing life until their last breath!

VIII. CONCLUSION

There is no limit to an older/old person being a vital member of society. Age is totally a non-issue when it pertains to be adventurous, curious, fashionable, and sexy. These components are totally unrelated to being old. Old age is what one makes of it. Being old should be never an excuse to give up on life and just to settle for its remnants. People were placed on this earth to be as vital as they can be before they pass on from their physical coil. Vitality, zestfulness, and youth are not only for young people but for all forward thinking, progressive souls who intend to FULLY LIVE until their last breath. Now, let's put on some green snakeskin boots and dance to Serpentine Fire by Kool and the Gang!