I believe people try their best to stay young because they don’t want to be old. Many young people, including myself, view old people as being unable to participate in activities that they did when they were young. I tend to see older people and it seems like I only observe the negative effects of aging, like using canes to walk, not being able to see, broken backs and hips, and disease. The concern that aging most likely brings for most people is that aging means death is getting closer. The likelihood of dying at a young age is low as compared to dying when you have past the age of forty because that is when cardiovascular disease begin and other health complications come into play. My mom owns a home care agency and I have volunteered to help the patients from time to time. Through this experience, I have seen that being old is hard. Many old people are usually sick because they did not take good care of themselves when they were young and have to deal with these complications in old age. I feel that people try to stay young to run away from the complications of being old and unattractive. Old people are ignored and it is very difficult to realize that you are getting old when you look at the way the elderly are treated in today’s society. I personally do not want to get old, but I know I won’t be young forever.
2 comments:
I wonder if it's actually the stigma that has seemed to go with the idea of getting old, rather than the actual getting old part that people are running from. There are many older people who do stay active and enjoy their older years. Getting older does not have to mean being forgotten, being disabled or being that much closer to death. It is what we allow it to be. I know my grandfather was active up to the day he died in his 90's. He was still chasing his grandkids around and loving life. It is all in how we view life and if we allow ourselves to get down or stay positive about life and aging.
We currently live in a society that outrageously embraces youth. To gain a good viewpoint, look at the most adored members of our society-- celebrities. Celebrities want to stay young with plastic surgery, botox and numerous other options; youth is just a finger tip away. Unfortunately, this outlook poses significant psychological effects in women as they grow old, most women are under the idea that old age is unattractive, unproductive and most women think they will loose status in the society as a result.
All women should be made aware that with old age comes wisdom and a unique beauty. We should all be made to appreciate old age by having older women as role models in our society. Old age should be a time of celebration for a life well lived and a time of reflection as well as helping other younger women reach the old age status successfully.
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