Age is not defined by a calendar
Age is not defined by a calendar
by
L.T. Force, Ph.D.
Gerontologist
Today, is the last day of my birth year. Tomorrow is my birthday. How old will I be? My answer will depend on when you ask me.
Developmental Psychologists will tell you people across the lifespan go through fixed stages, , i.e., prenatal, infancy, childhood, adolescence, young adulthood , middle adulthood, young-old, oldest-old, very-oldest old and death. (I have added to the traditional stages to highlight the reality that the fastest growing part of the population are over the age of 100 years old.)
Traditionally, a stage (a fixed period of time) is entered or exited by your identified chronological age….relying on a calendar. In fact, we have become accustomed to defining our age via a calendar; I think this is misleading. But rather, I argue, that stages are fluid and are more defined by a psychological perception of how old you are. In fact, I believe the only person that could or should define your age is yourself - driven by your emotional and psychological perception and state.
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Definition of Age:
noun
the length of time during which a being or thing has existed; length of life or existence to the time spoken of or referred to:
a period of human life, measured by years from birth, usually marked by a certain stage or degree of mental or physical development and involving legal responsibility and capacity
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So, tomorrow is my Birthday! How old will I be? That answer depends on when you ask me, In fact, the question: “How old will you be….should be replaced by the inquiry: “ How young will you be?” We need to redefine the definition and the calculation of age and make it a composite of many factors - not just one dictated by a number. In fact, "aging is a state of mind". The answer?
The answer is to: “ AgeLoudly!!!! Age like it matters….because it does!”
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