A few days ago three work colleagues (one male and two females) from another department questioned my age. Their age category is under 30. Never before did we converse about our personal lives. We spoke about kids and somehow I revealed the age of my girls. They assumed that I had my daughters at a young age and judging my current age to be in the range of 29 – 31.
Now you know what happens when people assume. They make an ass out of u and me.
Of course I burst out laughing and thanked them for guesstimating my age to be about 10 years younger than what I actually am.
Revealing that I was in fact a 40 something year old woman came as a shock to them.
“Really, you are lying”, “we don’t believe you”. Until I produced my driver’s license as evidence.
“Wow, you would never say”, they gasped. Still looking at me in disbelief but also somewhat embarrassed that they assumed I was younger.
Them putting me in this age category is in actual fact a compliment.
In retrospect; there was always a question mark next to my age. I started school at the age of 5 and ended my schooling at 17; making me younger than my peers. Remembering when we had our first democratic elections in South Africa in 1994, I was the only one out of my circle of friends who couldn’t vote as I only turned 18 in June.
Asked to produce my ID when I entered a night club for the first time. At my first job interview, I was told I look very young although my Identity Number was listed and copy op my ID was attached to my CV. Or could it be that I rocked up covered in blistering pimples dabbed with calamine lotion as I had chicken pox. They obviously didn’t know adults can also get childhood diseases. Needless to say, I got the job.
Revealing my age was something I was never ashamed of. Somehow I always had to validate it. People always assume I’m considerably younger than what I actually am.
Questioning someone’s age by judging them on face value, height, appearances or image often happens. Everyone gets older; some may look older than what they are and others younger. Others act their age, some still try to keep up with those much younger than them and others act much older than what they really are.
Now in my 40’s I’ve grown as a person and I’m wiser than what I was in my 20’s and 30’s. As you grow older you have the odd aches and pains, there are certain activities that I can’t do so well that I could do with ease when I was younger. I’ve gone a little gray, have frown lines and my body has sagged in places that I never thought possible. However these things do not define my age. There is nothing that a little hair colour, concealer, push up bra and body shaper can’t fix.
Age is literally just a number. It’s more about how you feel. Perhaps you feel young at heart, live a healthy lifestyle, projecting a positive attitude and have a zest for life. This might give you a younger appearance.
It may be that the stresses and demands of life are draining your energy levels and this has an impact on your skin, appearance and wellbeing. Making you look slightly older than what you actually are.
Society dictates and puts a lot of pressure on age. They require you to look and act a certain way at a certain age. This is where age comes into question and it is made more than just that number.
Age is measured in various categories – example infant, toddler, preschooler, school age, tween, teenager, adolescent, young adult, older adult and senior. Development, maturity, restrictions, legal responsibilities and retirement brings age into question. Age is also labeled when you can’t order from the kiddies menu because you older than 12, you can’t get a discount because you not under 25 or 60 and older or when you can’t enter a competition because you either too young or too old. Because of these labels, we are compelled to validate our age.
Bottomline, we all grow older and every year another number is added to our age. Don’t place value on this number. Instead, be proud of your age and don’t make it more than just that number.
Whether you look or act your age – it doesn’t matter. Just live your best life!
I wrote a similar post last year about the whole age thing. But I change my mind on it a lot. I’ve got a weird thing with age, my Mum has always said this. I think it’s some sort of insecurity I have. Coupled with the fact I legit feel like I lost 10 years somewhere. I swear I went to sleep in June 2003 and have only just woken up. #dreamteam
Author
Oh dear best you catch up on the 15 years lost as that is how long is has been. We are all different and we embrace our age in different ways. All the best.#dreamteam
I’m a decade older than most of the mums at my youngest school – I’m getting an achey body which makes me feel old – but I still have fun. I do feel old when I turn up at concerts and everyone is 20, and looks horrified at me…much happier when the lights go out! #Dreamteam
Author
Well most of my colleagues are younger than me so I’m in the same boat but I don’t let that get to me. As long as you still having fun and living your life to the fullest.#Dreamteam
Hear hear Noleen. I never think about age until I have to fill in one of those forms with age brackets. Having recently had my 50th I saw it simply as an opportunity for another party but it did mean I had to tick the next box p in the age range list. #dreamteam
Author
Congrats on your 50th – wow what an incredible milestone to reach. Continue to live life to the fullest#dreamteam
Great post. I get a little hung up on my age, especially as I have two your kids. I started late. Fidget was born two months before my fiftieth; Little Man came along almost three years later. But believe me when I say, they have taken ten years off me! Age is just a number.
#DreamTeam
Author
They sure will keep you on your toes and young. All the best and you so right – it is just a number until we make it to be more than than.#Dreamteam
This is so true. We get so caught up with numbers and appearances but some young people are born with old souls while some older ones have never grown up!
Author
True and why must we feel pressurized to act our age – just live your life.
I turn 40 this year and it has made me question where I am in my life. My 30th birthday feels like about 10 minutes ago which is quite scary. I love the place I’m in though now and the confidence and calm that comes with the years. Thanks for linking to #DreamTeam x
Author
Love the positivity – all the best for your 40th year on this earth – may it be a good one.#Dreamteam
Couldn’t agree more. I’m always being told I look younger than 43 and it’s hard to believe I’m 44 soon. It hit my the other day when I realised I’ve been working full time for 23 years, as I was still only 20 when I graduated from university. Perhaps that’s why I feel okay having a child later in life and adjusting my priorities. The only think I do find tricky is styling. I think 40 something is tough. I’m stuck between the younger funky things which aren’t comfortable or practical, and some pretty bland stuff. I’m due for a revamp I think!
Author
Start playing around and find the style that suits you best. Change is sometimes good but you need to feel comfortable with it. Mine is a more classical style but yet modern – which is not too young and not old fashioned.
I have to admit I do get all defensive if people comment I look younger than I am!! “Ooo you don’t look old enough to have 4 kids” makes me feel all judged by I think that’s just MY chip on my shoulder!!Great post #blogcrush
Author
As long as you feel good about yourself – age does not define you.#blogcrush
Age for me is just a number but I don’t get a little freaked out when I realise how old I am and how the years are flying by. Sometimes I wish that I could slow time down. Thanks for linking up at #fortheloveofBLOG. Claire x
Author
Time does fly by and with each year another digit is added. Just remember you as old as you want to be.#fortheloveofBLOG
I look way younger than I am. Everyone tells me that I’ll be grateful of this fact one day, but I’m 31 and still waiting…! Haha. I think, as you say, a lot of it has to do with your outlook on life and I think I have always FELT younger than my peers as well as looking younger than them – I never think “Oh I’m too old to do that” #blogcrush
Author
You still in the prime of your life – enjoy the 30’s and stay young.#blogcrush
Love this! It’s so motivating, and I completely agree that we should all be just living the best life we can. There is a lot of stress on age, but I’m totally in the camp of ‘your as old as you feel’. Thank so much for joining us for the #DreamTeam x
Author
So true and thanks for reading my post.#Dreamteam
The numbers of our age, like the numbers on the scale, don’t define us. The older I get, the further away the age of ‘OLD’ gets. For example, when the founder of IKEA passed away at 91, my reply, “But he was still so young!” Oy… #blogcrush xoxo
Author
Love it!#blogcrush