Growing old

For me, growing old is a very scary business. Millions of women in the world feel exactly the same way, which is why cosmetics industry is doing so well. We buy $250 worth of hope in that anti-ageing cream.

Turning 35, I started seeing physical changes. The skin around my jaw and mouth looks looser. My skin is losing its elasticity and luminance. I put on every ounce I eat. Middle age weight gain. I take an entire day to get over a hang over. Muscular recovery after a work-out takes two days. I am not sure if more people just go with the flow of old age or more people are like me, where growing older is a conscious state of mind and the mental age is younger than the physical age (my mental age is about 23 stuck in a 35 year old body).

Many people would say that they love being in their 30s. Maybe those people who have moved to another milestone of life (marriage and babies) have other things to focus on besides being obsessed with being older. That's probably right. Don't get me wrong. I do enjoy being in my 30s too. I am more financially capable in my 30s, which allowed me to do a lot more than I could in my 20s. But money can't buy youth. No matter how much you have. Life's not fair. Some people are prettier than others, some people richer than others. The one thing that brings everything back to equilibrium is ageing and death.

I am never going to stop to age. Neither will any Hollywood celebrity. My body will continue to deteriorate as nature prepares me towards the day I become compost.  I will be old enough for a 30 something to let me have her seat on the bus. I have not reconciled with that but I know I definitely will as I get more used to being an older person.

But I can put up a noble fight. Treat my skin well by keeping it hydrated (and with the $150 Sco anti-oxidant facial mask I got yesterday), keeping fit (with the help of expensive personal training), nourishing my mind, and working towards being a better person. One thing I know that is not bound by age. It is to be interesting. Being interesting comes with having your own thoughts, having a personality, keeping the mind active, discovering new things by trying things you have never done before. It is a losing battle and at some point, I will lose the fight and old age will take over. But I hope that I will never lose my zest for living. No matter how old I get.