I Don't Want To Act My Age

Take Pen to Paper: Edition 123

Jan 30, 2025

Hello, dear Readers,

Just the other day I emailed my husband a link to a list of albums turning 50 this year. That in itself was not an unusual occurrence. We often email links of interest to each other.

However, my choice of words for the email subject did not reflect the way I should be thinking.

In this newsletter:

Blame it on your age.
Age is just one factor.
Our words reflect our being.

I’m At That Age…

We are conditioned through life to use age as an excuse.

“… and, she’s three.”
“You’re in fifth grade. Act like you are.”
“I’m 18. I’m an adult.”
“Ever since I turned 40, …”

We hear it so often that we can find a way to blame anything on our age. It can even become an excuse to do or not to do an activity.

Now that I’m older, I really don’t like this.

With every new ache and pain I experience, I can’t help but talk about how old I am. It is my default language.

Age may have something to do with the situation, or it may not.

When I broke my ankle 15 years ago, the doctors assumed I had osteoporosis because of my age. They were wrong. I tripped and fractured it first, and three months later, it broke. The correct diagnosis was clumsy.

We bring all of our preconceptions about age to situations, and they are handy for judging choices, actions, and more.

Maybe we haven’t considered all the factors.

Age: Not The Only Factor

The older you get, the more you talk about age. Or at least it seems I do.

My friends and I lapse into talking about being old. We are over 60. It sounds negative just writing that. In truth, we are active and have strengths to share.

When I started thinking about this newsletter, I came across this article on NFL coaches. Consider what Kevin Demoff, the president of the Los Angeles Rams, said about age.

“I think we always looked at that [age] as just another descriptive word,” Demoff told reporters. “When you look at what the players said, this is about leading players. And their devotion to Sean, the way they feel, what you read about him, is to us what negated the age factor.”

I realize he is talking about someone much younger than me, but he could be talking about someone my age or older. There are plenty of people chronologically older than me who do the job of someone younger.

When we consider each person as an individual, age is just one factor. Our histories, strengths, and weaknesses all come into play. So does the situation.

Embracing the Language of Youth

In Take Pen to Paper: Edition 119, I wrote about the importance of the words we speak in relation to change.

Every time I say something about age, I feel the need to reframe it in a positive light. In fact, every time I tell my age, I think, “Wait, I’m that old? I don’t think of myself as that old.” So why do I find myself talking about the downside of age? I’m not being consistent with my thinking and talking. If I’m going to choose a side, I’m choosing to think, act, and talk younger.

Words can’t stop us from aging or make us younger physically, but they can give us the mindset to move more, try new things, and act younger.

Words can help us embrace the mindset of youth.

Words can make us seem younger.

Who wants to be around someone who always acts or talks ‘old?’ It sounds too much like complaining.

Embracing a young mindset can attract younger and older people. We can learn from them, and they can learn from us. In listening to Gretchen Rubin’s Happier with Gretchen Rubin, Episode 518, she talks about how research tells us that it’s good for us to have friends of different ages.

It’s a win-win.

You need to practice young thoughts and words if you want them to become your default language and your default thinking.

There will always be someone older who thinks and acts younger than me. I need to adopt that mindset. I need to practice if it is going to happen.

In the email to my husband, instead of using the subject title, “We’re Old,” I should have written, “Have you listened to these yet?”

Today I’m sending him this link with, “Dude, have you seen this?”

Does that sound too young?

7 Days, 7 Thoughts on Gratitude and Good:

I am grateful for the ability to be moderately active despite my aches and pains. 🏃‍♀️
Here’s an interesting article on views of aging across cultures. 🌍
If you are considered a senior like I am, you may be interested in this article on youthful thinking. 🧠
Aging is a gift. Mix the benefits with a youthful outlook, and your life will be enriched. 🎁
Is it possible that younger thinking leads to enjoying life more?
I am grateful for every day I have had and wouldn’t change a thing, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need to work on my mindset.
It’s a good thing to recognize that no matter your age, you have a lifetime of experiences and people to be grateful for. 🙏

Thank you for reading. This week, remember how young you are!

Until next time,

💚

Susan

What is something you do that keeps you young? Leave a comment and let me know. I would love to read about it.

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