Looking at a photo of me (this was my Nancy Sinatra era), I wondered if that girl still exists. Is that still me, or have the years and realities of life chased away that silly girl full of fun and dreams?
Society wants to make us think that life is just for the young, or, a bigger lie, you must stay young to get the most out of life.
As we age, do we make a shift, or do we still cling to youth in a negative way? Are we doing our jobs as adults, or are we still trying to act like teenagers? Can I act responsibly and still be young at heart?
I read that the University of Waterloo offers Adulting 101 to help students learn to budget, cook, career preparation, and other basic life skills. Instead of trying to be “sexy grandmas,” maybe we should teach our grandkids how to manage their money, fry an egg, or improve communication.
According to Fortune, “77% of Gen Z job seekers have brought a parent to an interview—they’re even getting them to negotiate pay raises and take their hiring tests.” Wow.
Aging is a responsibility, yes, but it doesn’t have to mean we lose our fun or give up on our dreams. It is about balance, maturing, and inspiring the next generation, not doing everything for them or being their competitors in how to be Drip (i.e., the new slang for being cool).
Don’t fight your age; own it. There are advantages to getting older. For example, what we worked to learn is now a skill. What was once a worry is now peace. Anyway, aging is inevitable: 70s cool is now vintage; what was perky is now pointing south (women will get that one). That is the way of the world. And, although life is challenging, my inner-young girl still lives on in every 60s song I listen to!
We can age responsibly and still take advantage of our older years to pursue new dreams and avoid boredom. Grandma Moses didn’t paint until she was 76. She had no formal training. She painted every day and produced more than a thousand paintings in 25 years. Her paintings now live in museums all over the world, from New York to Vienna to Paris. Could she have been a silly young girl too?
“Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.” Psalm 71:18
“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.” Proverbs 16:31
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