I guess I’m feeling my age. Gone are the bulletproof days of my youth when I could run as hard as I wanted, sleeping little, and eating anything I wanted. Middle age is catching up.
But beyond the extra weight and the aches and pains, I’ve noticed a curious phenomenon around me — people who don’t look their age. My wife,for example, looks years younger than her age. On the other hand, some people look and act much older than their age. (I was hoping to avoid the greeting a gentleman gave upon seeing an old friend, "I'll never live to be as old as you look!")
So I was very curious when I came across RealAge. The site has a free and very comprehensive RealAge Test that determines your “real age” versus your chronological age. It assesses a wide array of things — hereditary, situational, and behavioral — that affect how your body ages. The report also delivers a range of personally-tailored recommendations.
Remember what we’ve been told that our bodies are God’s temple, and that we need to take good care of it for His sake, our sake, and the sake of the people who depend on us. (Not to mention the cost to our economy due to preventable poor health.)
It turns out that I’m a year younger than my age…not especially good in my mind. Now I’m off for a session on the treadmill, a healthy meal, a glass of red wine, and quality time with my loved ones.
Take the RealAge Test: www.realage.com
Comments (2)
My RealAge
My RealAge is 21.8 … three years less than my calendar age. The site goes on to tell me, "But you could be younger — in as few as 90 days."
I don’t think I want to be younger. I just want to be my age. There’s something grotesque about older people trying to be young…and maybe we have the ideas of "youth" and "health" mixed up. I’d want to be a healthy 65-year-old, but not a "young" 65-year-old.
My Real Age
Sam, lots of threads going through my mind. For one, it does seem when you are younger, you do want to be older. That’s a daily battle with young kids and teens. And as you get older and feel those limits, you can wish to be younger and more vital at times. I personally don’t want to be any age but what I am in a healthy, joyful, and creative way.
You have a point about people trying to be young. We have whole industries that cater to this. It is a bit gross to see people with too many cosmetic surgeries, artificial tans, clothing styles that are inappropriate, etc. That’s as bad as the teeny-bopper dressed to kill like a mature woman.
The point of real-age is not about acting inappropriately or from a motivation to not be who you are. It is about health…physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, relationally. I see 24 year olds that are over the hill…severely out of shape, mentally no longer learning or curious, relationally in a cul de sac, spiritually dead. They are young, but they are old. Though young in years, they no longer have the capacity or drive to grow or serve. Sad, tragically sad.
I see middle aged men and women every day that are already in their twilight years in every dimension. They are much much older than their years…but not more mature, valuable, vital, creative, spiritual. Pitiful and pathetic.
And I see older people once in a while that have great energy, enthusiasm, creativity and curiosity, sparkling relationships, full of joy and hope. They are active. They travel, serve, contribute, learn, and grow. They are younger than their years. And some of this comes because they didn’t try to act young, but they worked to stay healthy, to keep growing, to keep learning, to keep up the pace in the race. What an inspiration and wonder!
I want to be young in this way, to extend my years if God so blesses me, so that I can serve Him with the maximum number of breaths I can take, to love my family and friends with every extra day that I have, and to keep learning and growing and preparing for the next phase of my life that begins on the other side of the door to His presence.
Trying to act young is a charade, the smoke and mirrors of make believe, the outward manifestation of self deception. I say self deception because everyone else sees through it.
Being young is a matter of the spirit and the heart.
P.S.
Sam, on a more humorous note, your sentiment may be more of a guy thing. Ask any woman (I’m treading lightly here!) if they want to be their age or younger, most would settle for being considered slightly younger. I have that on authority from the women in my household!