We are Ageing

“We are Ageing” – a phrase that sneaks up on you like the slow onset of that lower back pain you’re pretending is just a passing twinge. But here’s the thing: we can’t deny it. We can try, sure, with creams, diets, and Instagram filters that make us look like we’ve just had a conversation with the fountain of youth. Yet, time marches on, and we’re marching (okay, maybe shuffling) right alongside it.

Ageing isn’t the enemy, though. It’s the world’s clever way of making sure we appreciate how far we’ve come. Think about it – at 20, you thought you had life figured out. You’d achieve every goal by 30, maybe 35 if you wanted a cushion. Fast forward, and now we’re busy taking pride in the fact that we didn’t forget where we put our glasses (which are on our head, by the way).

Let’s talk about ageing responsibly. It’s not about hitting a particular milestone at a certain time, though society would like to think so. They tell you to get married by 30, have kids by 35, hit that career high by 40, and retire by 60. If we’re really honest, some of us haven’t even figured out what we want for breakfast at 36, and we’re supposed to have life all planned out? Nah, ageing responsibly is realizing that each passing year is an accomplishment, even if the only thing you’ve perfected is making instant noodles without burning the house down.

Accomplishments are funny things. They’re like those Instagram-worthy photos – some are staged, some are candid, and some don’t make it past the editing room. But ageing teaches you this incredible lesson: It’s not the number of accomplishments that matter, but the ones you truly care about. If that accomplishment is mastering the art of doing nothing on a Sunday morning without guilt, then hey, congratulations! You’re winning.

Now, let’s dive into life reflections. Ah, yes, the moments where you sit back and think, “What was I even doing with my life at 25?” Remember when you thought staying up all night binge-watching TV shows was a superpower? Now, staying up past 11 p.m. feels like climbing Everest. You learn that life’s little moments aren’t about checking boxes but about the joy that sneaks into the everyday. Ageing helps you slow down just enough to see that.

There’s a certain beauty in reflecting on how far you’ve come. Sure, maybe you didn’t win a Nobel Prize or become a social media influencer with millions of followers. But did you make it through a global pandemic? Did you learn how to use Zoom without awkwardly talking while muted? That’s worth a round of applause in my book.

Here’s the kicker: ageing is also about knowing that the best is yet to come. As we grow older, we gain something the young don’t have – perspective. We understand that life is more about the little victories, the unexpected surprises, and the relationships we’ve nurtured along the way. You’ve figured out who really matters in your life and, more importantly, who doesn’t.

So here we are, still standing, albeit with a bit of creaking in the knees. We’re ageing, and we’re doing it responsibly, humorously, and with the kind of grace that only comes from having lived a life filled with wins, losses, and everything in between. At the end of the day, it’s not about counting the years but about making the years count.

And if all else fails, there’s always hair dye, yoga, and those trusty Instagram filters. Ageing might be inevitable, but we can always look fabulous while doing it, right?