How Age Can Mean Absolutely Nothingfeatured

I have always heard the saying, “Age is nothing but a number.” Growing up I thought this was so preposterous. I mean, it’s not until 16 that you can drive and 21 until you can drink. In these particular instances, age is everything. Age can even dictate if and for how long you can go to jail after committing certain crimes.

Age is more than just a number, right?

The older the more age means absolutely nothing to me. I have met people my age who are in stages of their lives that I went through years ago and I have also met people my age with 3 kids and a 5 bedroom.

I am not close to having either.

I asked someone in their 60s if you ever feel like you are over 60 in your mind and they said absolutely not. I went through this the night before my wedding day. I didn’t feel old enough. I felt like a 16-year-old imposter in the body of a 29-year-old.

Yet in other instances, I often identify with people much older than myself. I would like to think that it’s because I am an old soul but I actually think it’s because I grew up faster than most because I felt like I had to, like I had something to prove – to not just my overprotective parents, but myself.

The more people I meet the more I realize no matter if you are 25 or 65, the scars you never heal from will show up time and time again.

That little girl that was bullied can potentially react the same as she did when she was in elementary school when feeling just as threatened at the age of 40. It’s not because she never grew up but its because she never learned how to cope with it in a healthy or productive way.

I see adults around me react to situations as if they are back in high school…Bickering and picking petty battles that could be easily resolved by taking action and acting just a little more “grown up.”

I know I am not the most mature human, when people try to contest facts I think I know I often get defensive. When I think I know the “best” way to do things and people do it a different way, I often feel offended or like I am a little girl with no voice or merit.

While this is true, I find I possess more emotional intelligence than some people twice my age. And that’s because I have learned to heal from a lot of my past pains.

I am self-aware of many of the actions that did not work out too well in the scenarios of my past. And while I am often in combat with the little version of myself, I do my best to not let her win.

Age can mean absolutely nothing when it comes to emotional intelligence and coping mechanisms on a daily basis.

I try my best to not judge people based on their age but rather appreciate them for their distinct life experiences and how they choose to act as a result of them. Because, after all, actions speak louder than words. And your age tells me absolutely nothing about you.

Love Deeply and Forever,

Karen