This nursy plays dirty and does it with pain...

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Ratiocination of A G E

Age is not important unless you are a cheese. Is it really NOT that important??? Age and aging I mean. I look at age and aging in two ways ... biologically and psychologically. And this is where it gets catchy on the discussion. Some people are lucky enough to be blessed with the "young look" wherein their chronological age does not seem to match their physical age. Of course physical aging can be skewed by many factors that are probably brought unto himself by the person himself such as smoking, drugs, and other unhealthy practises.

I was in a discussion with a health nut friend who I did not know was a "casual smoker". I had to impart the .... 1-900- NursyE- advice-line. He did not like that I was lecturing about the fact that his running many miles a week become unimportant when he is smoking away the cilia along his respiratory tract. Eventually, smoking will eliminate all these cilia and he would be puffing and huffing in his run.

I come across many people in my career as a front line caregiver. Some of these people are of my age and once in a while I wonder if I look as bad or as good as that person across me. It shouldn't matter, right, sure, some people would say. Others would say that age is just but a set of numbers. True, it is a set of numbers but it is more than that, isn't it? The D Dictionary defines it as ... That period of life in which we compound for the vices that we still cherish by reviling those that we have no longer the enterprise to commit.

Some people look matured enough and yet act immaturely, and vice versa. I have been told that I look younger than my age but still... if only I can hasten the advancement of the gray hair and the rickety bones... hehehe!!! Vanity, vanity, vanity... I know. Okay, I even agree to the "all in the mind" business of aging. You are as old as you think you are. And I believe that ... sometimes!!!

One issue that I have come across about age is the age gap between partners. Many Western men have decided to get into the relationships with much younger Eastern women. I have seen many broken relationships with these unions. I am not surprised a bit. These young women have so much more years of growing up that when they do, the men are caught off guard. Do you really think that a man in his 60-70's can keep preoccupying the mind and heart of a woman in his early 20's??? Get real!!! So then, what would be the good age gap???
In my unstoppable aging process, I look at my son as my mirror. I look at him and think of his growth process and alongside, I see myself evolve as well... So far, so good!!!

3 comments:

Elyani said...

I always joke that aging is inevitable, but "Growing Up" is a choice, but even at 41, I still don't really think about it. Just like you, people often said I look several years younger, probably because I have a petite body frame. I also jog once in a while and try to eat right most of the time. I like to look as attractive as possible and am dreading it when I'm all wrinkled and bent, if that happens, and no longer being attractive :) ... I think that a woman is beautiful from her being a nice person and a loving human being. No matter if her hair is gray or she has wrinkles or some extra weight. as long as she is beautiful on this inside she will be loved and treated like a queen.

Anonymous said...

I agree about the smoking issue. I am glad that my father stopped but I'm not sure if he went back to his old habit.

You are still glowing, believe me. I've seen a lot of women younger than you but looked 10 yrs older because of their not-so-healty lifestyle.

NursyE said...

Even at my age (ouch!!!) I still have many things to learn.

"you are still glowing"... hehehe... thank goodness for that.