The Bell Curve God
If there’s an age bell curve, then when does “growing up” shift to “aging” on this curve?
“It’s like that one; it’s age.”
Due to my injury, I’ve been getting a lot of such comments lately.
If I hadn’t experienced this condition 14 years ago, I might have allowed myself to be swept into this resigned narrative and assumed that my downfall is a symptom of age.
When to me, age is just a number.
I don’t ask for anyone’s age. I’m not convinced how useful that information is in charting our conversations and eventually contributing to the construct of our relationships.
There’s this person who constantly amuses me with their age obsession. It’s like they view the world through a number filter (Three Body Problem #iykyk) that just can’t be turned off.
This person also freely shares age-related information about others.
That aspect doesn’t amuse me.
I don’t believe a 20-year-old should think they know less than a 40-year-old, and vice versa.
I think that’s easy.
I think that’s lazy.
Constantly reminding someone, or those around them, of their age puts them in an invisible box of unspoken social norms.
Whether it’s a 20-year-old being told they’re a child and should defer to the proven way of doing things, or a 40-year-old being reminded their time is running out and they should be grateful for their job.
So, if there’s a clear transition point on this age bell curve, why do some people in the “aging” phase still exhibit “growing up” behaviours?
Age cannot be denied; it’s one of life’s few certainties, like death.
In fact, it’s important to walk with age. But that’s for the individual to know and not for others to find out.
Publicly announcing someone’s age leads others to unconsciously adjust their behavior based on societal expectations of how a 20-year-old or a 40-year-old should be treated.
Regardless of intent, this information is not ours to wield; it belongs to the individual.
