I find it amusing that the post titled “It’s Just a Number” falls on a Friday the 13th. The number thirteen even has its own specific fear: triskaidekaphobia. Heck, in reading a bit before writing this post I found out that those who are worried about this particular Friday may be suffering from Paraskevidekatriaphobia or Friggatriskaidekaphobia: a fear of Friday the 13th.
Really, it’s amazing (to me, someone who doesn’t have the above listed phobias) that a number could cause such fear within a person…
… but we’ve seen how the numbers of one’s age can cause their own unique form of anxiety.
I’m not talking about gerontophobia, but the fear the the numerical age we are (or that someone else is) isn’t enough, or that it’s too much. If there weren’t an actual fear of numerical age, then why do people lie about being younger, or older than they are? We fear we’ll be judged harshly because of our age, or that we won’t get access to whatever social thing wherein we want to be.
But then again, maybe this does have to do with gerontophobia, after all. If we weren’t afraid of aging and fading in power why would there be a complex, multi-billion dollar industry meant to extend the expiration date of a human being?
Other than being able to have legal access to certain things (tobacco, alcohol, adult-themed events, etc.), or creating boundaries for the sanctity of youth and preservation of innocence (consent ages, etc.)... age doesn’t matter. Again, aside from the aforementioned bits, age is just a number.
When it comes down to it, it’s about what we do with the time we have. Every day. Every breath. Every moment. When we focus on numerical age, we’re missing out on those moments.
Seneca said, “Life is long if you know how to use it.”
Live wisely.
(See y’all tomorrow)
Really, it’s amazing (to me, someone who doesn’t have the above listed phobias) that a number could cause such fear within a person…
… but we’ve seen how the numbers of one’s age can cause their own unique form of anxiety.
I’m not talking about gerontophobia, but the fear the the numerical age we are (or that someone else is) isn’t enough, or that it’s too much. If there weren’t an actual fear of numerical age, then why do people lie about being younger, or older than they are? We fear we’ll be judged harshly because of our age, or that we won’t get access to whatever social thing wherein we want to be.
But then again, maybe this does have to do with gerontophobia, after all. If we weren’t afraid of aging and fading in power why would there be a complex, multi-billion dollar industry meant to extend the expiration date of a human being?
Other than being able to have legal access to certain things (tobacco, alcohol, adult-themed events, etc.), or creating boundaries for the sanctity of youth and preservation of innocence (consent ages, etc.)... age doesn’t matter. Again, aside from the aforementioned bits, age is just a number.
When it comes down to it, it’s about what we do with the time we have. Every day. Every breath. Every moment. When we focus on numerical age, we’re missing out on those moments.
Seneca said, “Life is long if you know how to use it.”
Live wisely.
(See y’all tomorrow)
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