Although age might influence experiences and attitudes, it shouldn't be the lone factor in determining how people should spend their lives
The saying 'you're never too old to learn' is accurate when it comes to the quest for knowledge and self-improvement. With age, the drive to study and develop should not lessen but rather continue to flourish. By ignoring the idea of 'acting your age', people are given the freedom to pursue lifelong learning, discover new interests and stay intellectually stimulated. Isn't the 'act your age' norm set by society? Elderly people who are considered 'old', are discouraged from enjoying things and participating in adventure activities. But even if they are old, they're still humans, and they still have feelings and the desire to have fun.
I have always been intrigued by one of the scenes from the 2016 Hindi movie 'Dear Zindagi'. Alia Bhatt, who plays Kaira in the movie, looks for her seat on a plane. When she finally gets to her seat, she finds that a middle-aged father had already taken her seat because he wanted to sit next to his son. After being asked to switch seats with the man, Bhatt's character agrees, only to find that her (new) seat is between two other middle-aged men. Naturally, Bhatt returns to her seat and asks the middle-aged man to give her seat back. The man then objects to her request and mutters about how the younger generation does not respect the elderly.
Watching the scene I felt that elders can also make mistakes. As they say, age is just a number. While making mistakes is totally human, the elders may find it difficult to admit their faults given the expectation to have knowledge and life experience to impart to younger family members.
But not being afraid to apologise displays a growth mindset rather than being a sign of weakness. Misunderstandings can be avoided, and connections across ages can be formed through efficient communication. Seniors and juniors should interact meaningfully, sharing their experiences, perceptions and aspirations. We can only overcome the generation gap, learn from one another and flourish as a society if we practise mutual respect.
Although age might influence experiences and attitudes, it shouldn't be the lone factor in determining how people should spend their lives. People are complex beings with individual desires, dreams and capacities that go beyond the bounds of chronological age. Society should value originality and support people in following their passions and objectives without being held back by expectations based on their age. Regardless of age, people should have the flexibility to experiment with new things, pursue their hobbies and challenge themselves.
People may repress their ambitions when they are asked to 'act their age', which can cause dissatisfaction, unrealised potential and a sense of regret. Conflict within oneself, tension and mental stress can result from constantly attempting to conform to social norms or meet expectations.
However, embracing authenticity encourages mental health because it makes people feel free and at peace with who they are. Besides, elders may encourage juniors' personal development by being authentic. Elders may inspire juniors to embrace their own journeys, take risks and pursue personal improvement by sharing their own tales, accomplishments, mistakes and lessons learned.
Genuineness from older people can create a safe space where juniors can explore their own identities and hobbies. Being genuine promotes relationships that are more meaningful. When elders become true to themselves it defies societal expectations and assumptions about ageing. Elders may break boundaries and show that there is no age limit on personal development, fulfilment or self-expression by being authentic to themselves. Juniors may be motivated by this to defy age-related misconceptions and live truthfully at any stage of life. We can achieve genuine fulfilment and meaningfully impact society at any age by embracing personal growth and following our passions.
All throughout their lives, humans have a natural urge to keep learning and developing themselves. Strictly adhering to age-related expectations restricts our ability to grow personally and impedes personal growth. The idea of 'acting your age' can be constrictive, creating biases and reducing the potential of each person. Age alone does not determine someone's emotional, intellectual or social capacities because everyone develops and matures at different paces. People who are frequently asked to "act their age" may experience unpleasant emotional consequences, especially if it is used to judge or belittle them. It could lead to inferiority, self-doubt or a sense of not fitting in. The advice to 'act your age' ignores the individuality of people and their situations.People learn new things all the time and change as they age. While there are standards for various life stages, it's important to respect individual variances and refrain from using the advice to 'act your age' as a general rule.
To sum up, the idea of 'acting your age' is subjective and ignores the individuality and potential of a person. We liberate ourselves from societal expectations and realise our genuine potential by embracing authenticity and personal development. Seniors shouldn't feel pressured to exactly 'act their age' because doing so restricts their originality, personal development, and well-being. Elders can live authentically, challenge stereotypes, promote intergenerational connections and act as positive role models for people of all ages by refusing to conform to age-based expectations.
A society that values uniqueness, promotes lifelong learning and celebrates personal fulfilment at every stage of life must be created in order to overcome the restrictions imposed by age. Recognising that people of all ages have distinctive skills, passions and objectives is a key component of age acceptance. Regardless of age, let's support one another in embracing our passions, pursuing our aspirations and living our lives to the fullest by accepting one's genuine self as it enables a more rewarding and enriching experience of life.
