Older?

The anniversary of a birth, one’s birthday, occurs every year. It is said that people are getting older every year! Is it possible to get younger?

Some lament their birthdays? Why If that birthday anniversary occurs every year, why not celebrate? What is the alternative? If you miss one birthday, do you miss the rest of them?

“Good thing I’m aging, otherwise I’d be dead.”
― Ana Monnar

Is some of our fixation with age caused by a societal emphasis on quantity of life? Does it seem the focus is on how old someone is, not on how well they live?

Are people rated (judged), based on their age? How often do you hear a comment about someone being: smart, strong, healthy, active, independent, …with the added disclaimer, “for their age”? Is this not used with young and old alike? If quality of life is the issue are the disclaimers necessary? Is it possible for someone to be healthy, intelligent, energetic, capable… without reference to age?

Does defining by age, create a self-fulfilling prophecy that limits the expectations for further growth and development?

It’s paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn’t appeal to anyone.”
― Andy Rooney

Do we accept, maybe grudgingly, that we do age as measured by the calendar? Is getting old, a different matter? Is it more of a question of mindset rather than one of time? Is there a time designated that one is now old? Is there not great variance in when someone is considered old? Does it depend on a lot of factors, of which age is one? But is there not a myriad of other factors which affect being old? Are not health, lifestyle, genetics, mindfulness, stress and overall well-being examples of such factors that contribute to “being” old?

Do you decide how old you are by your chronological age, by what the “norm” set by society dictates, by the way you feel, by your own mindset, philosophy and attitude? Do you believe that you can influence how old you are, despite the date on your birth certificate? Do you think this idea is true for young people also?