Is age really just a number??

My 73 year old mother in law enrolled for a course some weeks ago at a university. She's not those 'overly educated' people who are obsessed with studying if that's what you're thinking. An ordinary, self employed housewife for years who felt studying something new could do her good, so she went ahead and applied for this course.

I know many of you are wondering why a 73 year old who is not looking to develop her career or to be employed is going back to study. And honestly, I thought the same at first, even if I was really impressed by it.

So I thought; Do we let age have more impact on how we run our lives than it should?? Do we let it be the key determinant in the decisions we make and the paths our lives take??

Well, theoretically, age is not really just a number. It is wrinkles, experience, wisdom, wealth, maturity, among other things that come with being around the world longer. But we do know MANY of these are also a choice. Say maturity (we all know that one person who refuses to grow up. PS; not judging).

Just like all other theories, there are a million exceptions to this one too. The  50 year old that has less wrinkles and a firmer body than that fresh 20 year old (or was that pushing it too far? But you do get the point i'm sure). Wiser younger people. Younger people that have had experiences that double or triple their ages. Retired people who have not been able to accumulate as much wealth as a person in their 20s and the list continues.

Age is just a number depending on your attitude and state of mind. How important it is for you to do things within the norm. How thick your skin is to take the judgement and not so silent whispers that come with doing things out of the ordinary (which is relative by the way) or things out of the cultural expectations.

For time immemorial, age  has determined when it is 'ideal' to have or not have kids, who we should or should date, what we can or cannot wear, when it's too late or too early to pursue certain dreams, who we associate with and so on.

Our problem is that we are so afraid of what people are going to think of the decisions we make at a certain age. We are so afraid of the stigma attached to doing things at any given age. So we forego our happiness just to fit in, to be 'normal'.

Now I am not going to sit here and pretend age totally doesn't matter. That would be hypocritical. It's true, you will naturally feel odd about certain things because of your age. In some situations age won't be just a number even if you keep singing it to yourself. There are limits that may be a little too much to be exceeded. But then again, who sets the bench mark to these limits??

I believe that we need to be more in control of the choices we makes, depending our circumstances than minding those numbers on our birth certificates. It saves you a lot of headache trying to fit things into a particular age bracket plus you miss out on opportunities and joys because your age said you could not do something.

Wear that sexy skirt if it makes you feel good even if some people may think you are too old for it. Have your first baby at 18 or 45 if that's when you feel ready for it. Hit the club at 70 if it still lifts your spirits. Date that person who is 20 years your senior or junior if you feel good with them and you are compatible but be sure to be given the side eye every now and then when you do these things. Or to be the topic of a conversation somewhere. But even people doing the 'normal' stuff are gossiped about and get the side eyes too right?

Dare to break the 'rules'. Do what you want, most importantly what is going to make you happy in the long run. We are tailored differently and our life situations are different. Do what suits you as long as it's not offensive of course, some little common sense is required, haha.



What's you take on this? When you throw around that phrase 'age is just a number'. Is it because you badly want to believe it or you actually agree with it??

LT