THE PANIC OF GROWING OLDER

Oyedokun Agnes Tioluwanimi

”The panic of growing older spreads fluttering winds from year to year…”

(Lenrie Peter’s “The Panic of growing older”)

Did you read this poem when you were in your secondary school? Yes? Okay, what came to your mind when you read it? Or did you just read for “let’s-read-it-and-pass-the-exam’s sake?”

What happens when your birthday is approaching? Do you feel scared because you are about to be 18 or 20 or 25 or even 30? For young people and older people, the intensity of the feelings get stronger while those in their 30s or 40s resign in jest.

In the October 1974 general conference, Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone shared a quote from Stephen Horn, the president of California State University suggesting that we even revise the negative connotations of “old” by replacing it with “living longer” and emphasize the value that experience brings rather than declining physical abilities.

What are some of the reasons people are afraid of growing older?

Some people, especially females are scared of looking less beautiful than they did in their younger ages and that’s one of the reasons people who sell anti-aging product make a lot of money from their main consumers, the female gender. Some of them even opt for plastic surgery just to make themselves look young for almost forever.
Old age comes with an increased probability of sickness and a decline in health and this is scary itself and might also make them unable to do the things they love.
Young people have many goals and dreams that they want to achieve before they start aging and reaching the set age without achieving those goals triggers the realization that they are not where they want to be.
Everyone strives for independence one way or the other in their lives. Children are being taught on ways to become independent and it might take efforts to reach that level of independence. Now, imagine having to lose that independence at your old age after striving for it? How does that feel?
Many people see old people as a burden and they try to avoid them. Old age tends to bring solitude. Building new relationships as we age becomes more difficult. This decrease in relationships leads to increase in time spent alone and can result in feelings of being unwanted.
The fear of death.
But what’s the point of the panic? Nothing! It just leaves you feeling negative and unsettled. You can’t obviously grow younger by having this panic. Can the panic reduce two years from your looks? No, it can’t.

You will grow old. Don’t stress yourself. Enjoy yourself now. Make good use of your youth.

“If wrinkles must be written upon our brow, let them not be written upon the heart. The spirit should not grow old.” – James A. Garfield

Do the things you are meant to do, now. Don’t let your heart and spirit be down. Everyone will grow old, your friends too.

On a lighter note, why don’t you talk to some of your close friends about having a club when you guys grow old so that you won’t be too lonely when your children and grandchildren are busy?