You Are As Old As You Feel

In my circle of friends there has been a flood of birthdays in the last two months. This has given us the excuse to get together and enjoy each other’s company. Each celebration was accompanied by a reoccurring item of discussion; OUR AGE! The discussions usually consisted of the following points; how we do not feel our age, the change in our bodies and energy levels, and the feeling of not accomplishing all that we wanted to at this point. These events inspired me to write my next post on age.

In college I majored in psychology and this aspect has assisted me in writing my blog. Today I will dust off my psychology knowledge and include it in this post. So here we go! When examining age there are many theories focused around the subject. I am focusing on three ages for the purpose of this post. The first age is our chronological age. This is the age most commonly referred to. It is how old we are from our birth date to the present time. It is this age that gives us the most anxiety as we put more and more candles on the cake.

The second age is our biological age and is determined by our physical condition biological factors. Biological aging can be the effect of poor diet, lack of exercise, insomnia, stress or injuries. Another important biological factor targeted more so to women, is the dreaded biological clock. There is added pressure on women to establish their career, find someone to settle down with and then have children. All of this has to be done by a certain age and this can cause even more stress on those trying to “find their lives direction.”

The third age is our psychological age and is simply defined by the age we feel we are. You can imagine the chaos when these three ages do not fit together. For example, there may be someone whose chronological age is 26 years old but they perceive them self as a care free 21 years old. This is the “crisis” occurring within myself and with my friends. I feel too old to be 21 but not accomplished enough to be my age. My birthday has become this big reminder of all the things I have not accomplished and adds even more pressure to the next year.

I have finally realized that this panic and anxiety over my age is unnecessary and counter-productive. I can only focus on doing my best now to get to where I want to be. I cannot compare my progress to others. I am my own person and my experiences are shaping me for my future. To those of you struggling with this issue, here are a few tips.

1. Instead of using your birthday as a measurement for your lack of achievement, use it to celebrate all your many achievements.

2. Appreciate your battle scars. Reflect on all the negative experiences you have been through and how you came out on top!

3. Celebrate your birthday with confidence, great friends and a martini.