Breaking the Age Obsession
During a conversation tonight, phones were brought out, as they always are, to show off pictures. This time, the pictures weren't of children or grandchildren, but of our youth. Everyone proudly displayed images of themselves from years ago, when they still had hair and weighed many pounds less. Not wanting to be left out, I searched my phone for a picture that was taken over sixty years ago and showed it to the group.
I was happy that they recognized me, but I could see their thinly disguised thoughts: as they looked at the photo and back at me: "OMG, age really sucks!" In fact, I was thinking the same thing.
Then, I asked myself why I was lamenting the fact that I didn't look like I did sixty years ago. In that narrow, culturally defined way of thinking, I was focusing only on what I had lost - my superficial appearance, which I was never that happy with when I had it. What have I gained sixty years later?
I'm a lot smarter.
I'm a lot wiser.
I have a loving wife.
I have grandchildren who love me.
I have two sons who have forgiven me for my mistakes as a father.
I have been gifted with reaching 81, still alive and healthy - a gift that many people never receive.
I'm happy. Much happier than I was when that picture was taken. Back then, I didn't know who I was, why I was here, what was really important, or what was non-negotiable in my life.
Would I trade any of that to be that guy in the sailor cap again? No! Then, why am I wasting a minute of my time wishing I could look like that again?
Let's try to break the pattern of running away from age. Yes, we leave some things behind as we age, but let's not lose sight of all the things we gain.