Maybe Age Really is JUST a NUMBER

Last week, two colleagues of mine were in town working on a project. As visitors to Thunder Bay, they asked me where a “happening place is that serves different beers;” as I started listing off some pubs and restaurants, I caught myself saying “it was a cool place when I was young”…instantly adding the “er”… youngerrrrrr, to complete my sentence followed by the defensive comment- “I am still young.”

I just turned 32 this past weekend. It sounds nice, thirty-two.  Age is supposed to bring wisdom, intelligence and beauty, so why is everyone so afraid of it? Age to me IS in fact just a number. Yes, I had a weak  moment getting all bent out of shape when I dated myself (talking like my parents telling a story from 1950 when everything apparently cost a nickel), but really, the only time age has ever really mattered to me is when I knew I could finally drive, drink, vote, get a job, and don’t get me wrong, it’s also important when it comes to selecting a decent merlot. Age is simply a representation of the amount of time you’ve existed as a human being on this planet (and survived! high-five)   – nothing more and nothing less.

Overtime society has engrained in us that aging is a bad thing. So when age confronts us in the mirror day after day, we really don’t react well. Instead of seeing the beauty and experience, we focus on the sagging, wrinkles, lines— the weaknesses. You can’t even ask most women their age without offending them (don’t roll your eyes at me, you do get cranky).

Attention people of the universe: We are only as old and as young as we let ourselves be. Yes, time wise you are aging by the second. You are older now than you were yesterday, this morning, heck- I’m older now than I was when I started writing this blog. HOWEVER, we all know people who are eighty yet act twenty and vice-versa. My point, just because time says your old, doesn’t mean you are. Fact: those that have a positive view on aging, live longer and have a healthier life. If you self-define yourself as someone who is old, then you’ll probably act that way.

Try asking yourself how “old”  you would be, if you didn’t know how old you were?

I know we are all going to have those moments when we feel a little older- Sure you can’t stay up allllll night like you used to; Yes, I also have that strange popping sound in my knee every time I stand up,  and ya, I really think it’s time you relax a little with Oil of Olay obsession  (moisturizing isn’t going to turn back time)— Stop focusing on your age. Be happy that you are alive and healthy. Think about it this way, it’s pretty amazing that you’re still here; Your body pretty much gives the finger to gravity every day of your existence. If that isn’t cool, than I don’t know what is.

Young, old— just words. You’re a human. No one lives forever. Don’t stress about the number of candles on your birthday cake. Stress about getting the biggest slice with the most amount of icing (I will take the corner piece). Live your life and forget your age. AND of course, Bay Awesome.