Are We Old Yet?

“There is always some specific moment when we become aware that our youth is gone; but, years after, we know it was much later.”

      — Mignon McLaughlin

The other day [though it seems like every other day] I was asked when was I going to settle down. My response, as usual, was that I am settled down. Sure, I know what everyone means when they ask, but they’re only asking because I’m about to turn 35.

“Isn’t it time?”

I always found it quite insensate to “settle down” because it was time. Aren’t relationships built around two individuals developing chemistry and not by the hands of a clock? Emotions aren’t determined nor developed by how many days we’ve walked this planet. And there is no time limit to finding the one before they’re all gone.

It seems there’s a certain status quo of where we should be in life by certain birthdays. Forgive me for being so defiant. I used to have that feeling though. When I crossed into my 30s, I swear when I woke up the sky was green and the grass was blue. I didn’t panic, but I knew Father Time wasn’t waiting for me to get myself together, so I moved to Washington, DC, [where I've always wanted to live] on an impulse. Literally.

And suddenly everything reset itself. It’s as if I’m experiencing renewed lease on being young again. My chronological age isn’t slowing down, but my spirit, but curiosity, my desire to explore has all increased. We think we’re getting old, but we’re not. Orbits around the sun don’t determine our youthfulness; it’s all in our minds.

If we think we’re getting old at 30, wait until we hit 40! And still the 50-year-olds will be shaking their heads when we say we’re old, waiting for us to hit 50. Then the 60-year-olds are going to chuckle at us saying we’re old because we’re still a long ways away from social security and an AARP membership.

Mature, sure, but don’t get old. You may think you’re settling down but really, you just might be settling.