Old beyond my years

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Photo by Heather Davidson
Photo by Heather Davidson

Itโ€™s great getting old.

It seems getting older brings a whole slew of advantages that are impossible for one to possess in their youth. Things like an appreciation for what life brings you, an acceptance of oneโ€™s position in life and the wisdom that only experience can bring ignites an appeal to me that being youthful simply does not.

This is something I also realize is not shared by people my own age.

Having almost reached a quarter century in terms on time of this planet, I often feel like Iโ€™m closer in age to a 65 year-old then a 24 year-old. The sentiment of being an old soul is something that people constantly reiterate to me, as if to further suggest that how I live and act is from a long-gone age. The truth is I donโ€™t feel like I relate to the cultural trends people my own age are into.

For instance, the language I use doesnโ€™t seem to match up with that of those around me. Often archaic, itโ€™s almost outdated with word use often being a few centuries too late. Words like โ€œfecklessโ€ and โ€œabaftโ€ seem sensible to me, but result in clueless looks when used in conversations with my peers.

Words that are more popular nowadays, such as โ€œselfie,โ€ make me scratch my head in puzzlement as to why anyone would think it sounds okay in conversation.

Itโ€™s not just limited to the vocabulary I use in daily conversations. Fashion trends, contemporary music and a number of other things people my own age are into just arenโ€™t appealing to me.

On a recent trip to Florida, of all things I could buy I was content with a nice warm sweater and a copy of Don Quixote, which in itself raises questions about whether or not I relate to the nasmeless hidalgo the book is based on.

I think the biggest reason for my hoary perspective on life comes from my inability to identify with the culture I live in. By no means a misfit or delinquent, I often think what strikes me as appealing or attractive often comes from the past.

Musically I look to past decades for artists to listen to, Iโ€™m a fan of what could be considered โ€œclassicโ€ fashion looks and most of all I feel more of an appreciation towards the products of a former time.

My feeling towards dealin with my internal struggle with age is to simply accept it.

I donโ€™t feel discouraged in understanding how contemporary culture can be stylish more so because Iโ€™m so comfortable to look at the past and find solace in bygone eras.

Feeling old is something I welcome because itโ€™s not about being cranky or feeling elderly; itโ€™s more about realizing the things Iโ€™m most in tune with are from a different point in time.

A nickname I commonly hear is Old Man Grumps, each word referring specifically to my views on things. I donโ€™t argue with being called this. In fact, I welcome it with open arms.


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