Aren't We What We Are?

In the past few days, the media has been focusing on the labelling of "old people". There was also an articled entitled, "Don't Call Me Old" featuring a grey hair woman in fashionable top paired with tights and pumps. Today, a reader wrote in to say that her late mother was offended when a doctor referred to her as "old lady".


So is aging paranoia a new thing or not? Lets see, when I turned 30 early last month, I talked about buying beauty products to delay the aging process. Both my mother and late grandmother have always been complimented for looking much younger than they really are. Obviously I did not bag the same genes hence the talk of SK II etc. Last week when I was walking in Botanics Garden, there was an Indon tai tai sitting next to Eddie and I. I kid you not, her skin was more supple and smoother and more glowy than Eddie's bottom!!! This tai-tai has got to be in her 50s but she looked damn good for her age. Undoubtedly, her doctor has done an excellent job.


I read a very good article last week which talked about accepting aging and fight social negative labelling of aging. Point #1 in the article was, "Stop telling people that they look younger than they do." I have to both agree and disagree to this point. First of all, you are what you look. So if you look younger, it is a fact. And if you don't, live with it. Too bad you haven't got the good genes. Too bad you have smoked a pack a day for the last 10 years. Too bad you were drinking a bottle of whisky every other two days and getting 5 hours of sleep while working in a super stressful environment. The only reason why I would agree to this point is for the sake of the weaker minded people who are so influenced by mainstream media. We already know that this group of people generates a multi billion dollar industry.


When we were growing up, I am sure all of you would agree school was one of the most cruel places. Children spoke their minds and gang up against the odd ones out. I am sure most of us were teased for being fat, skinny, ugly, pimply etc. Guess what? We grew up accepting our differences and moved on. And the same should apply too when we reach that juncture and accept the fact that we are old.


It is true that the general pre-conceptions about being old is weak, sick or wrinkly. If you cannot fight all 3, at least then do what you can and stay fit. And if you cannot, accept what you are that you are old; weak, sick and wrinkly.