Stay Young In Spirit
How old is old, Bernard Baruch was once asked? Old is fifteen years older than I am, he replied.
I thought about that the other day as I was standing in a line up at the cash, buying a bottle of wine for dinner. There was an attractive younger woman ahead of me, buying a bottle as well.
As she was about to pay for her purchase, the cashier politely asked her for some identification; In Ontario you have to be at least 19 years old to purchase wine or liquor.
“I hope you don’t think I’m being personal” he said. “It’s the law.”
Now, I’m not good about guessing ages but she didn’t look anymore than 35 to me. From my vantage point she is just getting started!
Her face immediately lit up. Laughing, as she handed over her ID, she replied, “Mind? Are you kidding? I’m flattered. The way the week’s going I feel like I’m 40!”
She’s not alone. At some point, we all reach an invisible – or not so invisible wall, where we begin to feel we are getting old. Or think we are.
Many today are resisting change, struggling with the new technologies, new attitudes and ways of doing things, complaining about how things aren’t like they used be… a sure sign that the clock is ticking.
The truth is, though, aging doesn’t happen at any given hour or day or decade. The process is not biologically set in stone.
We all have a choice. It’s a personal decision. As the days and weeks fly by, we can’t stop the clock. We can remain young in spirit, getting older, yes, but not old.