How old are you?
44
Is there another age you associate with yourself in your mind? If so, what is it? And why, do you think?
I remember when I was 21. According to me, I looked my best then and really enjoyed my life, despite several personal setbacks. It was also the first time that I was part of a clique and I enjoyed that. It was nice to belong to a group, something that the “single, only child” in me appreciated.
Do you feel old for your age? Young for your age? Just right? Are you in step with your peers?
I may look my age or older, but I feel very young, maybe in my 20s. My peers have undergone experiences like marriage and childbirth, which I suppose have made them more “mature” than me. I feel a bit out of step with them emotionally, but in terms of work, I think I’m A-OK
What do you like about being your age?
I like the fact that the pressure to “be something’ is off. Whatever I accomplish these days is of my own volition and because I want to, not because I’m expected to.
What is difficult about being your age?
People expect me to be very mature and set an example for others. I find that kind of responsibility exhausting and sometimes, I just want to be frivolous!
What is surprising about being your age, or different from what you expected, based on what you were told?
I thought women in their 40s were ancient, but I feel younger than ever!
What has ageing given you? Taken away from you?
Ageing has given me wisdom – that we are more than our faces and bodies! It has taken away my tight skin lol.
How has getting older affected your sense of yourself, or your identity?
I’m mostly around my parents. And I’m older than a lot of people, but I’m so not used to being an “aunty” as they call older women in India since I have no kids and have never been married! Also, I hardly know how to relate to children.
What are some age-related milestones you are looking forward to? Or ones you “missed,” and might try to reach later, off-schedule, according to our culture and its expectations?
I still haven’t given up on being married someday! It would be nice to marry and experience what my friends have been complaining about for the last 20 years, lol. Who knows? It may still happen before I’m dead. Haha!
What has been your favorite age so far, and why? Would you go back to this age if you could?
21, coz I’m forever 21! Lol. I had the best time of my life then, so yes, I would go back to this age if I could, but just for a brief visit. I’m quite happy today and do not feel the need to rewind or fast-forward my age.
Is there someone who is older than you, who makes growing older inspiring to you? Who is your aging idol and why?
I think my mom is my ageing idol. She has stopped dyeing her hair and is more concerned with less superficial things than the color of her hair.
What ageing-related adjustments have you recently made, style-wise, beauty-wise, health-wise?
I have stopped dyeing my hair since the start of the pandemic. I have stopped doing my eyebrows mostly because I’m waiting for COVID-19 to end. Healthwise, I’m trying to walk for 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening. I’m trying to eat healthy and lose more weight.
What’s an ageing-related adjustment you refuse to make, and why?
I’m not a facelifts, Botox, over-user of creams kinda woman. My skin may be crying for anti-ageing creams, but I don’t seem to be doing anything about it. I also don’t believe in keto diets!
What’s your philosophy on celebrating birthdays as an adult? How do you celebrate yours?
I don’t enjoy my birthdays much, except for the couple of presents I receive. It’s usually a working day for me and I do nothing different to celebrate it.
Love,
Ash
Poem from social media. It’s not a poem I’ve written.
