Friday 29 May 2015

Age is but a number........ Or is it?


Time.

Teenage years now seem a blur, when you’re developing your personality, hormones, growing into your body, making mistakes. Some you learn from, some you don’t. Wagging school. When school is finally over, the thought of entering that adult world is so exciting. Earning money, becoming dependent, able to drive, legally drinking after illegally drinking, and oh those relationships.  First kisses, first dates, first crushes and first loves. And sex, awkward sex. Piercings, tattoos, fashion faux pas, clothing that might embarrass you ten years down the track. Friends are mischievous, and curfews broken.

The Tempting Twenties. Explore and take risks. When adulthood really kicks in, earning money becomes a necessity, and not just something to pass the time. Independence, self-empowerment, work, co-workers and saving money. The world is real. Money allows you to live the life, owning a car, and trawling the nightclubs every weekend. All nighters. Be irresponsible. Following your favorite band, live shows, and attending concerts, purchase your favorite albums and playing them loud. Different drinks to discover, the cocktails, the shooters and the mixes. Drugs all too readily available and all too damaging. Friends with benefits. Serious relationships and living in sin.  Purchasing a home, settling down, and getting married, or not getting married. Comparing your life, wanting more, wanting everything all at once. Intangible dreams. Careers.

The Tantalising Thirties. The twenties world no longer appeals, suddenly you are thirty, your mind catches a glimpse of a life more real. Relationships grow, an understanding of love ripens, dependence on another. Their life is yours your life is theirs. Unless you grow apart, find you were never meant to be together in the first place, then follows estrangement, divorce. A sudden ending or one that tortures you slowly to admit that fate did get it wrong. Separation hurts. Watching friends find their happiness while you start again. Crap TV, soppy movies and romance novels. Living in the past. Your body hasn't changed very much, maybe some wrinkles, some gray hairs appear. Responsibilities are necessary. Confidence kicks in. Sex is enhanced, experience leads to self-assurance. Junk food. For the few that get it right, and even those that don’t, there are children. The biological clock ticks. Little beings are born into an incredible world. Eager for love, lessons on life, and so reliant on you the adult, the parent. You teach, you school, you feed, you clothe, and you turn that little being into a person who is an echo of you.

The Fabulous Forties. They really are fabulous. Perspective. The inner dialogue that drives you. Your body is yours, as changes begin. You accept them or you don’t. You’re a grown up. Fitness regimes, fad diets, meal replacement shakes, green juices. Detox. Children grow, begin a life of their own, you are saddened by this. Their independence challenges you, and you find your own ways to pass the time, hobbies, sport, exercise, and friends. Convertible cars. Midlife crisis. Lunches, dinners, wine, homes to decorate, gardens to grow. You’re dealing with death, divorce and the negatives that come with growing older. Disease, cancer, doctors.  Alcohol affects you. Hangovers. Early to bed.  Celebrating milestones, family get-togethers, cooking because you can. Toxic friends are gone, you’re brave, you’re strong, and you survive.

The Familiarising Fifties. Those final years of your forties, just don’t prepare you for your next F decade. Half a century, more than half your life is lived. Grey hairs amass, chunky body parts develop, and skin becomes frail. Eyesight that weakens, memories are relived. Children are now adults, not listening to advice, living their own life as they want. You're comfortable with you, the person you are. Whatever that self-looks like. A Saturday night, with good wine, TV and good food is wild. You are you. A realisation that life is what you make it; your choices, your decisions, and consequences. All that has happened in previous decades has brought you to where you are today. The people that crossed you have made you stronger. The people that have been there for you have made you stronger. Everything may indeed happen for a reason. Meditation, health retreats, connecting your soul. Enlightenment. Find peace with the world. Heal the past and look forward to the future.

The world is in the palm of your hands.

To be continued.....................................

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