AGING

by Sally P.
(Florida)

The first time I felt "old" was during my one of my first years of teaching Middle School. I knew it would happen, but when a student mentioned how old their mother was, and she was younger than me, I felt...well, old.

I mean, I had already started seeing gray hairs on my head, but that never bothered me. My skin was beginning to wrinkle, but I just thought I needed to start using some lotion.

The numbers though, they don't lie, and by age alone I was beginning to realize that I was getting "old."

I also remember the first time I heard of a sports star being younger than me. I was in my 20's. Never thought much of it. Now, though, I hear of sport reporters talking about athletes being "over-the-hill" who are almost 10 years younger than I am!

People say that age is just a number - and it is. Numbers, however, do not lie. At some point we must all face "our" number and come to an understanding of where we are in the scope of our lives.

Those who accept aging can usually age gracefully, accepting life as it changes. Those who struggle in their minds to stay young, are always struggling.

Aging is not pretty, but the experience it brings is. The stages of aging are not always pretty, but life itself is beautiful...