I was having a conversation the other day at work about past events in the history of Europe and my country (Romania). And, as I was telling my colleagues that I was too young (practically a baby) to remember any of those events, one of them replied “Adina, you do realize that now we know your age, right?”
It has always puzzled me this social stigma about age. Why is it that we proudly utter our age at 24, but we barely whisper it at 64? When or why has “old” become “obsolete”? Why do we let these thoughts of powerlessness creep in as we mature? I am well aware of our body wear and the natural cycles of life, but why are we reducing our being to our body and dismiss the richness of experiences and wisdom behind it?
I never quite resonated with the way age is stated in English: 35 years old. Or the conclusions in Romanian around a certain age which translate as “I am getting old/ I have gotten old”. Might be because I’ve seen the process of getting old(er) associated so much with a highway to complete helplessness and in the face of this inevitable destination, most of us forget to enjoy the ride and actually live in the meantime. You may argue that sometimes the road takes us through ugly landscapes and I agree, wars are not experiences that anyone would like to have the memory of. But while wars do not discriminate against age and are out of our control for most of us, I am referring here to the paths we consciously take or do not take towards our destination (old age), once we become more and more aware of it with time.
Perhaps I am fooling myself, but I’ve been saying since my early twenties that with each birthday I am getting wiser instead of older. I will soon turn 36 and I would not go back in time for anything in the world. I’ve had a rich life with the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows, yet I am more at peace now and in better shape than I was in my twenties. Looking back at my life, I expect only wonders going forward. I haven’t always taken good care of my body and my emotional health and I live the consequences now. Yet I am grateful for the wisdom I gained and I am now taking full responsibility for the vehicle I ride in and the passengers I let accompany me. Thinking about my 80s, I envision myself still having a young, joyful spirit and being able to walk 10 km straight without a huge strain on my body. I am now working through the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual foundations that would enable me to manifest that vision. For sure there will still be some bumpy roads ahead. But the fact that I made it to this point gives me comfort that I am better equipped now for whatever comes next. And who knows, I might be even wise enough to avoid the dead ends before stepping on those paths. 🙂
