I don't know what it is recently, but I've been noticing that everyone around me seems to be obsessed about their age, and I'm getting really sick of it! We as a culture are way too concentrated on youth and staying young.
I have a friend who is 29 and is panicked about turning 30 and not being married. I have another friend who is 39 who actually said to me, "I'm not going to freak out about my age until I hit 45." What?! I work with someone who is 35 who goes on and on about how old he is and is already preparing for his retirement. My father has been planning his funeral since I was 8. He says on his birthday every year, "this is the year you will have to box me up."
We spend billions annually on beauty treatments, diets, plastic surgery, new cars, new clothes, etc. Why are we so focused on the outside and so completely uninterested on what's going on inside ourselves?
I'll tell you why, it's because we are programmed that way since birth. Society tells us that we are unattractive, useless or without value when we hit a certain age (especially women). Society also tells us what age we need to graduate college, get married, have kids, retire, etc. We're all on different paths and major life events will happen at varying times for all of us.
I believe that our lives are like that ride at Disneyland called Autotopia. On that ride you're in little car and the car just rides on a track. You can turn the wheel left, right or in circles and it will just go forward on the track that it's on.
That is the metaphor for our lives. No matter how hard you try to make your life turn left, right, backwards or repaint it, the car will go the way it is destined to go. So, it is time to stop focusing on our age and just be grateful for every day we do have above ground.
Here are some ways to help you stop obsessing about your age:
1) Live in the Present -- "Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life." Eckhart Tolle. If you're living in the past then you're in regret. If you are living in the future then you are in worry and fear. Focus on the here and now. The present is precious and the only time that actually exists.
2) Acceptance -- Acceptance is the answer to all of life's problems. We can find no peace or serenity until we accept that we are the age we are and love ourselves no matter what number that is.
3) Gratitude -- Gratitude is going to be on all of my lists. Why are we constantly looking at what we don't have or focusing on the negative? We should be focusing on abundance rather than lack. Be grateful for your age because with that age comes experience, strength and hope.
4) Get Out of Yourself -- If you're obsessing about your age then you are thinking waaaayyyy too much about yourself. Go help someone less fortunate who would love to have your quality problems.
5) Don't comment or create a story about what you're going through -- Suffering occurs when we tell ourselves stories and allow negative thoughts to ravage our heads. Just let things be as they are and love life as it is. Stop creating a story about your age and what it means to be the age you currently are. Write a new positive story.
6) Don't be afraid of death -- "The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time" -- Mark Twain. You can't live your life in fear of dying that is just a fear of living fully.
7) Live a life of purpose -- Make a difference in people's lives, have integrity with everything you do and follow your passion. If you're living a life of purpose and enjoying it then you will be too happy obsess about your age.