I believe age doesn't define anything, at all

Cliche sayings are cliche for a reason. Age is truly nothing but a number. A symbol of how long we have been experiencing this current lifetime. My soul is older than the Earth, as are many. Maturity comes with experience, awareness and humility, as does wisdom.

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hartfire

That's because you're young.

I've worked as an aged care worker. Old age robs people of their abilities, independence, spouse, social connectedness and friends. The majority of the very old are on antidepressants to mask the depression that comes from loss and grief.

Now that I'm a baby boomer approaching the threshold of old age, most of my friends and acquaintances are in the same bracket. Some of us have already died. We talk about the changes we experience.

The ideas that "age is only a number" - or that "you're only as old as you feel" - are two of the most ridiculous sayings I've heard.

They may sound like clichés to you but they weren't around when I was young. They are recent inventions that have taken off and become fashionable and they're euphemistic lies.

Wait till men turn their eyes away to pretend they don't see you,
till people consider your age a liability when you apply for jobs
or till you have arthritis and shaking a hand means crushing pain.

Wait till you discover that all your wisdom makes little difference because you no longer have enough time left to make the best use of it.

Appreciate and make the most what you have now.

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hartfire

@AKLRising We can all learn a lot from one another.
Today I've learned from you that I need to be far more careful not to jump to conclusions, especially with people I've only just met and on the basis of insufficient evidence.

hartfire

@AKLRising Manna 💖 :) and the feeling is mutual.

AKLRising · 26-30, F

@hartfire I have had to learn that myself, and you're right that we can all learn from each other.
From you I have been reminded that the way we choose to word things is important, so are disclaimers, and I could have taken more care to ensure I didn't misconstrue my intentions and risk offending someone.

EmilyEdith · 56-60, F

Age is actually a thing. You feel it when you get up in the morning. You feel it at night. Systems start to break down and you can't see hear or do things you definitly did in your 20s. You can only strive for the best version of yourself you can be, but there is no pause button, no going back. Even if you pretend, that number is still there on your face and you will be marginalized for that.
It must be accepted and made to work and that can be done...but forgetting the number doesn't stop the hands of time. It comes for you anyway!

pelman0011 · 56-60, M

All I know is I always tell people I'm ten years older than I actually am.

See; people have it backward. I learned that from my grandmother.

I asked her once; "Maw Maw; how come you always tell people you're 85 when you are really 75?"; and she said; "Cuz I look pretty good for 75, but I look amazing for 85!"

AKLRising · 26-30, F

@pelman0011 That is charming indeed, and I am sure she did look amazing at any age. I like your profile image. I admire Rod and his work very much.

pelman0011 · 56-60, M

@AKLRising Thank you! I love New Year's Eve and NY Day, due to the Twilight Zone marathon. True, I could watch it on Netflix anytime I want; but it's like I told my mom when I was upset becauee I missed the ice cream man and she said she'd take me to the store to get ice cream; "It's not the same".

AKLRising · 26-30, F

@pelman0011 I know what you mean! Truly do.

Melpomene · 22-25, F

You can't have experience and understanding of everything when you're young. That's where the cliche comes from.

AKLRising · 26-30, F

@Melpomene Young in Earth years or in years of the soul? My current lifetime has been active for 26 years now, and counting, my soul however is older than the Earth itself.

Melpomene · 22-25, F

@AKLRising In human, flesh years. You can't look at everything the same way you did when you were 10. And you can't know some things before you experience them. If you don't believe me, think of the things that happened and you were not ready for them.

AKLRising · 26-30, F

@Melpomene Oh no, I agree with that totally.

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