Life is a circle ...
... like a snake eating its own tail.
I found this question posted in a senior group recently. My first reaction was anger. Why would some moron ask that? Was it designed to demean older people? When I thought about it, I wanted to post an answer.
Q) Â How does it feel to be old, look at 20 year-olds, and miss those days when you were young and beautiful and popular?
I don’t know that I was ever beautiful. Oh, I’m sure I didn’t look like the underside of a horse’s tail, but I was never beautiful.  I would probably have only been considered attractive when I was young and twenty-ish.
Popular would depend on who you ask. I was on the Homecoming Court, so to some extent I probably was, but popularity and a pleasing face don’t count in the bigger picture.
Neither looks nor popularity would have helped with the difficult choices, or grief, or hardships, or the many lessons that would come later in life. They were only mine to learn.
No, it doesn’t bother me to see twenty-somethings enjoying their day in the sun. I’ve had mine, now it’s their turn. That’s life and how life is supposed to be. Someday, if they live long enough, they’ll be here where I am now.
What does bother me is when twenty-somethings only see the me I am today. They don’t even try to imagine the me I was at their age. But the real damage comes when they rudely push me aside, or treat me like I’ve lost my mind along with my youth,
Don’t laugh. It happens. Someday, the twenty-somethings will have to deal with that, too. Life is a circle, a snake eating its own tail.
What goes around, comes around …
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I don't mean to cast aspersions(do you love that phrase?) on the person who asked the question but I don't miss being in that 20 year old group at all, not even 30, 40, 50.. Have to love it when 60+ is the highest category listed on forms. How about being quite happy, content and satisfied with being what we are? Age just a number, really! Judgments about age often misplaced and wrong.
I remember being in my early 20s laying in the sun and my elderly neighbor said "I used to do that too." I looked at her probably with a smirk I'm sure. She answered with "I was young too."
I thought "yeah right?"
Well here I am closer to 60 than 50 and yes, it happens! I have no idea but it does.
I also remember the kindness of older people when I was in my 20s and I wanted to be like them. I also, remember how I felt if an older woman was condescending to me or looked me up and down when I was wearing my crop tops.
I'm sure I can be that woman and judge the younger generations. I know I do. At any age there is a person inside that wants to be seen. I hope to do better. I'm trying