For the last few years, I’ve been finding myself wondering aloud about some activities to friends, saying, “When I’m old, I wonder if I can still do…..”
More than few of them laugh and say – “Uh Lynn – you are old!”
After the last time this happened – it was very recently – I gave this idea much thought and I figured out that for me, “when I’m old” means when I can no longer do certain physical activities.
For example, once when I was skiing with a friend on the glacier at Timberline we gazed out at the great view. I asked, “Do you think we’ll still be doing this when we’re old?” [She’s my age]
She laughed so hard and said, “Lynn – most people think we are already old.” Duh! I really really had not thought that of the two of us!
The same sort of statement came out of my mouth when I was talking to my daughter-in-law. I casually said that I was wondering how I’d take showers or baths in my tub when I got old as I maybe couldn't climb in and out of the tub. She laughed and said “It’s funny to hear you say when I am old – because – well – you are old!” But she quickly added that I was in great shape for being old… [dang youngster!]
I write about aging myths and aging stereotypes but never gave careful thought to my own. Hmm – and so I began to think about my own stereotypes of “old.”
Physical activity in any animal, including humans, has always been of interest to me. I love watching and doing many sports and while I was watching football; I came to the conclusion that, for me, “old” means when your physical abilities decline.
I’m not sure how much mine or anyone’s have to decline to be considered “old” but it became clear to me that my measurement of old is almost purely physical.
More than few of them laugh and say – “Uh Lynn – you are old!”
After the last time this happened – it was very recently – I gave this idea much thought and I figured out that for me, “when I’m old” means when I can no longer do certain physical activities.
For example, once when I was skiing with a friend on the glacier at Timberline we gazed out at the great view. I asked, “Do you think we’ll still be doing this when we’re old?” [She’s my age]
She laughed so hard and said, “Lynn – most people think we are already old.” Duh! I really really had not thought that of the two of us!
The same sort of statement came out of my mouth when I was talking to my daughter-in-law. I casually said that I was wondering how I’d take showers or baths in my tub when I got old as I maybe couldn't climb in and out of the tub. She laughed and said “It’s funny to hear you say when I am old – because – well – you are old!” But she quickly added that I was in great shape for being old… [dang youngster!]
I write about aging myths and aging stereotypes but never gave careful thought to my own. Hmm – and so I began to think about my own stereotypes of “old.”
Physical activity in any animal, including humans, has always been of interest to me. I love watching and doing many sports and while I was watching football; I came to the conclusion that, for me, “old” means when your physical abilities decline.
I’m not sure how much mine or anyone’s have to decline to be considered “old” but it became clear to me that my measurement of old is almost purely physical.
This is now an idea I will keep pondering: