It’s official – I can’t remember how old I am without doing some mathematical calculations, which really sucks, because I hate maths! One day, I knew exactly how old I was and I was still looking forward to each birthday with unabated enthusiasm, and the next thing I knew I was in the ‘it’s just another year’ category. When did that happen?
As a child, I could never understand how on earth my mother didn’t know how old she was without working it out. I mean, really! Surely, forgetting your age is tantamount to forgetting your name? Apparently not! As it happens, after a while you simply stop counting, because it’s too much effort to recall and what does it actually matter when you still feel the same inside. Age truly is just a number.
The truth is I don’t feel a day older than I did at twenty-five. Honestly, sometimes, I even forget I’m in my thirties. In fact, at times, I still think that people in their forties are old until I recollect that I’m closer to forty than twenty. Yikes! Okay, so forty is definitely not old.
As we all know, the hazard of aging is that, as the years go by, your outer shell will no doubt become a bit more wrinkly, creaky and flabby. Yes, your body will betray you like a soft marshmallow in a microwave and you will have to tough it out even harder to keep it under control. Unfortunately, there’s no magic drink or potion that can transform your physique (although we will keep searching in vain for a quick fix, cure-all solution to this diabolical problem).
In addition, I’ve been told that there will come a time when it’s best to avoid all mirrors, since you won’t recognise the person looking back. Yes, body snatching is legit.
However, external issues aside, I think the beauty of age is that it’s relative – you are as young or as old as you feel. The fabled fountain of youth resides within us all. On the inside, you’ll always be the same vibrant person who you were in your youth – and that’s one thing that never changes. No matter how old you get, you’ll always feel significantly younger than the calendar misguidedly claims you are.
Plus, you’ll get wiser and your mental acuity will increase (for a time anyway) and you’ll become less concerned about what other people think, which is extremely liberating. This may result in you being classified as eccentric – especially, if you take this new-found freedom too far – but who cares? You certainly won’t – and you probably won’t remember anyway.
Yes, there are many great perks that come with age, despite the fact that these benefits tend to be overshadowed by the apparent disadvantages. However, aging is inevitable, so why not revel in it?
When you’re young, age is a black and white concept, but I think I’m finally old enough to recognise and comprehend its hues of grey. Fortunately, I’m also still young enough not to be too fazed by all the wonderful developments that I have to look forward to. At any rate, I have more time for the powers that be to find an actual fountain of youth and turn it into a bottling factory. Yet, if all else fails, it’s comforting to think that I can console myself with the knowledge that I will always be young at heart.
Audrey Whyte 
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