I am not sure what being “old” means. Is there a special test you have to pass? Is a certificate issued? Does the white card from Medicare entitle you to claim the status? Who decides? We all know that to teenagers 30 is ancient. On whose authority is someone declared “old”, and what credentials do they possess?
I ask, because yesterday, I felt “old”. Every muscle ached, and every joint needed lubrication. I did not want to move.
I know that “attitude is everything” and that you personally decide each morning what kind of a day you are going to have, but I just wanted to roll over and go back to sleep. We are still unpacking after our move, and I had to reorganize the garage, move dozens of cartons, and relocate a number of furniture pieces. It took ten hours of work to achieve the goal, but once I finished, I knew I had overdone it.
In my fifties, I could have put in another day just like the first. Now in my seventies, the old body just doesn’t have that resilience. I hate to admit it. Like any certified geezer, I bridle at the “age” tag. I still want to feel that I am up to any challenge. But the old body is sending signals that it can not longer respond like it once did. Does that mean that I am old?
The answer might be, “Yes”, but I don’t think I will listen. I think I would rather ache and keep trying than to adopt the “old” tag. Staying active and engaged, even if the intensity wanes over time, is a far better choice than “resting”.
Three cheers for Peter Pan, who wouldn’t grow up! Let’s all endeavor to be engaged and engaging.
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