This weeks thoughts were inspired by the great orator Peggy Mitchell whilst contemplating her life with good friend/foe Pat Butcher one night over a few too many vodkas.
‘Why don’t we age on the inside at the same rate as we age on the outside?’
Wise words from the great Eastender gal (just for those who don’t know who Peggy or Pat are). It got me thinking why is it that as we age outside we still feel young inside? There are many times in my life when I’ve looked around and thought “why are they looking to me for answers, I’m only 16” – only to come back to earth with a bang when I realize I am in fact 35 and a Manager for a large group of people!
The same is true when you go through different stages in your life – leave home, get married, have kids, start a new job – there’s always that feeling of – I’m not old enough for this responsibility!
I wonder if we will still feel the same at 70 when our bodies tell us daily that we’re not 16 anymore – I feel that often now with my 40 year old body! This year being my 40th has of course brought questions of age to mind – “what have I achieved with my life, will I be remembered for anything significant, have I got time left to do what I want in my life?”
So what’s the learning, if any? Well it helps me to know that others feel the same – when I’m overwhelmed with a responsibility or task I can just look around and know that others feel the same too. Also know that you can handle the task before you – you only have to look back and see the evidence along the way of trials faced and overcome. The great thing of course about getting older is you do have a track record to draw on – even if new things come along you will have tackled something similar in the past.
Take courage – there’s wisdom with age, there’s maturity and there’s an uninhibited attitude of who cares if I look stupid! At least that’s what I’d like to have!
