aging
Aging with grace and beauty. Embrace age with aging advice, tips, and tricks.
A Millennial Looking up to Our New Generation
There is a dysphoria of the millennial. They were born in the era of hands on mechanical with just the beginning emergence of technology as we know it. So, at their core, in their formative years they have that love of the tactile, mechanical, and classic play, but also the wonder of evolution. And the rate of that evolution was staggering and more than we could ever imagine. The last 20-30 years have brought to us a whole new civilization, unimaginable to those from just a few decades ago. For those from rural areas, looking specifically at those who have moved to larger centres for their adulthood, the paradox of their childhood and now is even more paramount. In some cases, our future is more than they could have even imagined in their cardboard box space fantasies.
By 'Toto' (Aleksina Teto)8 years ago in Longevity
Holding onto Childhood
Over this past year, I have realized a lot of things. The natural progression of growing up includes levels of maturing and changing, which is completely natural. As you get older, your priorities and perspectives begin changing and some things become a lot clearer. As I enter my 20s, I understand that I can now make my own choices, whether it be about friends, about boys, even about where to eat. I no longer have my parents holding my hand and making decisions for me. That seems to just be a given. However, as I am taking this step in life I am starting to notice an extra thought cross my mind whenever I make these decisions. Is there a part of me that is still a child? Or a part of me that is still too innocent and naive to take on some of these things? I seem to have a foot in both worlds and am unable to fully throw myself into adulthood. Last year I turned 20, for some reason on that day I suffered from a lot of anxiety. At the time, there was not a reason in the world for me to be anxious but out of the blue, I started developing some anxiety and depression where I hadn't experienced that before. As the year comes full circle, I am slowly starting to realize what my subconscious was trying to make me aware of. As I hit the milestone of entering my 20s, I was getting ready to make the leap into adulthood, leaving my childhood behind. This, to me, is a scary feeling, something about the thought of that makes my stomach fill with butterflies and makes me somewhat emotional. I think when you are a child there is a spirit in you, where you believe in magic, and that everything will work out. You also have a relationship with your parents that lacks complication and stress. You are a free spirit as a child, and you are also further away from the inevitable idea that we will all die some day. I think I struggle with this jump because I am a daddy's girl, and for some reason I have it in my head that making this jump will mean that title will no longer be mine because I'm getting older. I often find myself even at my age now questioning my decisions, keeping in the back of my mind if I am old enough to make these choices. I find it interesting how our brains work. How we can feel so certain of something but so doubtful at the same time. If I make a decision to partake in a sexual experience, thoughts run through my mind "Am I too young for this?" "Would my parents be disappointed?" "Does this mean I am impure?" All these questions because the part of my brain that remains in my childhood is implying that I need permission because, for the first 18 years of my life, I have needed it. Making the switch from running through life with your parents there to catch you to now making sure you walk because if you fall that's on you is a scary and confusing transition. I sometimes feel alone in this thought, like maybe I am the only one having a hard time with such a natural transition. When in reality we all go through this at some point, this transition can be confusing, and scary, and altogether quite taxing on our brains and our emotional state. Trying to figure out which "label of life" to identify with can come with a whole mix of emotions that no one prepared us for. When we are kids, all we want to do is grow up, and be an adult, and take on whatever our adult lives have to offer us, without realizing that it is a very scary step to take and that there is so much more to it than just being able to drive a car or go to a movie by yourself. It involves real stress and responsibility. It involves planning for the future, making decisions that will take you down certain pathways in life and ensuring that they are the right ones. I think the biggest realization too is that you're not the only one getting older. Realizing your parents and grandparents are progressing in age as well can be a scary thought. Although they have lived a much longer life than you, they are all you have ever had. The people around you growing up whether they are blood or not have played a huge part if not the biggest part in your growth and comfort in life, they are your support system and your hug when you need one. So having the realization that those important people are getting closer to the day that they are not here anymore plays a huge part in the anxiety of getting older. I am still learning and trying to cope with the stress of such a big step, and will hopefully develop the tools and skills to go through this process with my best foot forward. I think we need to learn to accept the things we cannot change and make sure that we make every day count and make sure we tell the people we love that we love them. As far as making the jump to our adult lives, we need to realize that our past is now behind us, to appreciate the memories and times we had with those we had them with, and learn to look forward to making new memories with new people who will come into our lives in the future. The one thing I will finish with is to make sure you don't hold yourself from moving forward because you are scared to leave what is behind you. There is a reason it is behind you. Never forget it, but learn to appreciate it for what it was and remain hopeful to appreciate all of the experiences that are to come.
By Alex Frisby8 years ago in Longevity
9 Things That Happen to People in Their Thirties
1. Your metabolism says fuck you and decides to go on strike/permanently retire until further notice. And by further notice, I mean you further notice your teenage body go to shit. Say goodbye to the days where you could just starve yourself thin to fit into that dress you were dying to wear to an upcoming party. As a matter of fact, throw that dress away because you will never fit into it again, and having it hang in your closet will do nothing but remind you of the impossible. You can starve, work yourself out to death, count all the carbs and calories you want, bang your head against the wall, scream, cry, and the scale, which I’m convinced is out to get me, working hand in hand with my metabolism, won’t budge. At least not in the direction you would want to see it move.
By Erika Potap8 years ago in Longevity
Growing Up
Every now and then, I think back to the days when I was small and fragile. I didn't have a care in the world. I could jump off of the garage roof, into the sandbox, and all would be okay. That was just the silly, adolescent way a seven-year-old boy's mind worked. Funny how my biggest concern growing up was my friends mum coming to get them after one of the most fun times hanging out after school (every single time).
By Zach Brennan8 years ago in Longevity
Aging Is Just a Part of Life
I just turned 61-years-old, and for the most part I don't feel it. I have arthritis in my knees, and some minor aches and pains that tell me I'm getting older as well. At 61-years-old, I have also hit the invisible age wall that tells all employers that I'm too old to hire. People can try to tell me that it doesn't exist, but it does. I'm a military veteran with 20 years management experience, as well as customer service experience. I have a Bachelor's degree and I'm almost done with my Master's. Yet, the only job I have been able to get is a part-time job at minimum wage at Sam's Club Café. I have applied for every job where my experience matches the company's hiring requirements, but all I have received is the standard "thank you for applying; if your experience matches the skill set that fits the position, we will contact you for the next step in the hiring process." I'm still waiting.
By Verona Jones8 years ago in Longevity
Quirky Baby Boomers
Are the good old days gone? I often think about the baby boomers. I am a baby boomer and suddenly find myself at the top of the family ladder. I now sit in the place once reserved for my grandparents and parents. As all of those family members passed on, I have now taken their place, a spot on the ladder of life that I was not ready for, nor especially yearned. I come to realize that each generation has their "Good old days."
By Carolann Sherwood8 years ago in Longevity
Becoming a 'Real Grown-Up'
When I was a young child, I firmly believed that I would reach adulthood at the age of fifteen, and I couldn't wait. I don't know what convinced me of this number—perhaps it was the misrepresentation of teenagers on TV, but I do know that I was absolutely certain of it. Needless to say, when I reached the ripe old age of fifteen, I did not behave nor feel the slightest bit grown-up.
By Hannah Amiee8 years ago in Longevity
Milk Sugar Intolerance
I am hearing that more people are suffering from lactose intolerance. These people suspect that they cannot digest milk sugar in their body. This intolerance can affect anyone at any time when it has never bothered them before. People can go for years without a problem, and then all of a sudden he or she experiences gut-wretching abdominal/intestinal cramping, nausea, and diarrhea.
By Carolann Sherwood8 years ago in Longevity
Retirement: The Next Phase in My Life
As of this writing, I am a 62-year-old black man living in New York City. I am not trying to brag. I am just telling you, my reader, my perspective in this article. I am not really a happy person right now as I will discuss later, but I feel that you need to know who something about the speaker here.
By Maurice Bernier8 years ago in Longevity
Parked in My Car on a Sunny Sunday Morning
When I was in college, I studied English which, obviously, included the study of prose and poetry. To be very honest, I was not a huge fan of poetry. That is not to say that I hated it. I meant that I favor the prose more than poetry. There are a few poems that I do like. One of them is the following poem by Robert Frost.
By Maurice Bernier8 years ago in Longevity
9 Things That Cause Gray Hair Before 30
When it comes to our hair, we're so cautious of keeping it in tip-top shape. We'll wash our hair twice or three times a week (no more!), try not to put so much heat into our hair often, use the best products for our hair, and we limit the amount of times we dye our hair. Especially at such a young age, we want to avoid our hair from turning gray and falling out once we hit our older years. And it's pretty easy for our hair to thin and eventually fall out.
By George Nekilan8 years ago in Longevity
