Age Is Only A Number, Right?

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ageOk. I know that since most of us are moms, we are of a certain age. A certain age where we kind of morph into what our parents used to say and do to us when we were younger. Do you find yourself saying something to your kids, and then you literally fall off of your chair because you hear your parent’s voice coming out of your mouth? Yes? No? Bueller? Bueller? Maybe it is just me.

As I get older, I am less in tune with my age as a number and more in tune with my age as a presence. 

I find that when I have to remember how old I am, I have to do quick math in my head. I have to figure out or remember my age. Isn’t that strange? Shouldn’t you remember your age Conceivably, yes.

You remember the year you were born. You remember highlights such as your Kindergarten first crush, your best friend from grammar school, your eighth grade graduation, your “drama-filled” high school years, college, college and/or post-college graduations; whatever memorable moments you can associate with your age.

I find that now, especially over the past 8-9 years, I have to literally think for a minute about my age, except for when my seven-year-old daughter tells me how old I am now and how old I will be when my birthday comes around this year. She loves to tell me that I am the same age as her second grade teacher. She is semi-obsessed with telling us (me and my husband) how old we are.

When the number comes out of her mouth, it feels a bit weird; like, I feel like I don’t look like that. Or when I see people that I have grown up with that are the same age as me, and I compare their look to my look, I think, “Do I look like that?” I don’t feel that I look like my 40-something self. I pride myself on the fact that I look younger than my age.

But, as a result, I forget how old I am. For a minute. Unless my daughter is there to remind me.

Why is it that we don’t realize how old we are? Maybe it is the company we keep? Maybe it’s the fact that we are running around being everything to everyone – Mom, Wife, Daughter, Employee, Chauffer, Home Keeper, Business Owner – CEO of Life. Maybe we don’t have time to sit down and think about our age, and we have to think about it for a second or two.

I find that it is ok that I have to think about my age. It means I don’t have time to sit around and wonder what to do next. My mind is constantly moving. My body is constantly moving. No time to dwell on what could have been 10 or 20 years ago. It’s time to make things happen now and move forward. It means that I am focused more on the ‘now’ versus on the ‘how long.’

Sometimes friends will comment (and I will comment too) about how our body is not acting how it did when we were in our 20’s. And for the most part, in my observation, it is true.

But I also think that my body, because of its age, can do so many amazing things now that I would not have even attempted when I was in my 20’s.

Prime example – my fitness. I am much heavier now than I was in my 20’s, but my body is so much stronger! Age, in this instance, is definitely only a number.

I lift heavy weights. I have developed biceps and am ‘growing’ triceps. My legs have benefited tremendously from squats with weights, increased inclines on various cardio machines (Arc Trainer, Elliptical Trainer, Stair Master, Treadmill), and especially from spin class (specifically SoulCycle). I would have never been able to do the workouts I am doing now in my 20’s because of my mindset.

It is BECAUSE of my age I am NOW able to accomplish whatever I want to do athletically. Age IS just a number to me. Age shows how much life I have put into my years.

Is age just a number to you too? 

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Joni
Joni Manradge is a wife and a mommy to two littles and lives in lower Westchester County. She loves challenging her body and building the best life possible by focusing on her health and fitness. She loves to lift heavy weights, and loves SoulCycle. She is focused on her weight loss journey. She is also an amateur foodie (read LOVES to go to new and existing food establishments that serve fabulous food) and loves all things wine and champagne. She also loves the outdoors and to sit and listen to the water hit the beach.