Acting My Age

I just finished reading Tuesdays with Morrie for the second time. It's one of the best books I have ever read. I enjoyed reading it again as it fits with my life so well right now. One of the main messages of the book is to live your life in relationship, with people who are important to you and not worrying or caring about the material wealth that is acceptable in society. Each chapter is a topic from discussions held between Morrie and one of his students, Mitch. One of the things that they discussed was aging. One of the interesting points that was raised was that there are those who wish they were younger.

Morrie said that he didn't wish that he was younger. At 78 and dying of ALS, he had no desire to be younger. He said that wishing to be younger was for those who had not fulfilled their potential. He didn't regret getting older or aging in anyway because he was able to be every age. He could be 17, 35, 48 and 53. He knew what it was like to be all those ages and he was able to be them all over again. I like that idea of aging. I also think that he was right.

I tend to not act my age. For some reason I tend to act older. Most people will tell me that I seem to be at least in my twenties while I still belong in the realm of teenagers. One of the great things that I have learned to do this year is act more like my age. It's pretty liberating and much more enjoyable. I'm 19. I can't be 25 or 38 yet, but I will get there. I can still be 14 and 5 all over again. I can be a kid while also being closer to growing up.

Acting our age and accepting our age is a powerful step. Society seems to be obsessed with the idea that we slow down aging. So many people wish that they could be back in university or in their twenties again. I have no idea why. I'm not going to suggest the angst and confusion ever really goes away, but that is the worst time in the world for the growth of those feelings. There are redeeming factors of this time - freedom to do more things because we have less ties to those around us, less dependence on us. I'm not even sure that will be better than what happens later in life. I enjoy being close to those around me and I'm alright with people deing dependent on me. I like being 19 for some reasons (mostly because I can finally drink) but I don't dread getting older. I've accepted that I will get grey hair and wrinkles. I will have to have a job for the rest of my life, although it will be one that I really love, and I will be a responsible citizen of which ever country I'm living in. I will be acting my age when I get older as I am learning to live my life in my age right now.