I have often wondered when we officially get old. Is there a magic number that says that you have reached this milestone? Is the magic number 65 when society tells you that you can retire? Is it 50? Maybe it is 72 when you can get the full amount of your social security (if you are lucky enough to have social security).
There have always been age rules that have been set in place. Sometimes, society or the government picks the number. Society/government can give you a number to legally marry, join the military, buy liquor, and do other things. At one time, the government dictated the age that you were required by law to sign up to be drafted into the military. Most of the numbers created by the government are similar to the numbers on items marked “best if used by.”
Our parents dictated the number. I never felt that I was old enough in my parent’s home–they were the parents, and I was the child. It didn’t matter how old I was.
Maybe it is the day we decide to abandon high heels for
sensible shoes. That can’t be right because a friend of mine was well into her 80s, and my best friend’s mom was in her 90s before they went from 4 and 5-inch heels to the more sensible two and 3-inch heels.
Maybe it is when you start getting information you didn’t request from AARP? Do you know that you can join AARP as young as 35 years of age? You don’t get the full benefit of it, but is 35 the new old?
Now, saying all of that, sometimes using your age is helpful. I check everywhere I go for that senior discount, from dining to entertainment.
Could it be that we are old when we have gray hair? I can shoot that down quickly. 
There are people who gray very early, in their teens. Since we are talking about hair, is it when hair grows where it shouldn’t (can we all say together chin)–but what age is that?
Some say it is when we go through menopause. I don’t think so because medication can be the culprit, family history, and more. It could be when we are past childbearing age. I know you read about the lady who was over 70 and gave birth to healthy twins. I guess she didn’t know that children will age you, and they don’t like old parents.
You may have turned old when you sat on the floor and couldn’t get up. Then you remember that even when you were younger, you couldn’t get off the floor without some assistance.
No magic number tells the world that you are now old, but there may be sounds that are telling. We start to make sounds when we sit/get up out of a chair–why? We tell the world, or anyone who will listen, about our blood pressure and cholesterol–who cares?
Our conversations with friends now start with us saying we are going to “my” whatever kind of doctor he is. I’m on this medication, and no, it is not for weight loss.
Our bodies let us know that we are maturing with the aches and pains that come. We don’t know the people on the award shows. We want movies that aren’t throwing body parts, killing, or using so much profanity. In essence, we want “happy movies.”
I say this to say there is no magic number that tells us we are “old.” Live life to the fullest; you may be like Peter Pan and always remain young at heart. Remember “thisisyourbestyear”; if you’re not going to be walking or standing a lot, you can probably still wear those four or 5-inch heels.
