By Stuart Adelberg
My fellow Americans. . . we have an age problem. As a people, we are fixated with the issue of age, but we deal with it inconsistently, depending on the particular circumstance. I know you think I am referring to politics, but I’m not. While I am only a young 64 years old, I am mature enough to know that writing a column about the impact of age on the upcoming presidential election would not be a good idea. It’s true that the focus on age in politics is what led me to think about this, but my desire to make it to 65 and beyond will keep me from publicly opining on that situation!
America’s fixation with age is apparent everywhere you look. One can’t miss the constant barrage of messages about age, and the multitude of methods promoted to delay or avoid its effects. Workout to maintain a youthful body. Consider surgery, injections, medications, or one of a million creams to eliminate wrinkles. If you still have a full head of hair, which, of course, we can regrow, it better not be gray! We have supplements to maintain energy, mental acuity, sexual performance, and a few other bodily functions I’d rather not describe. Medical advances and healthy living have made it common for people to live more active, longer lives than we ever thought possible. We celebrate and congratulate the increasing number of people reaching 100 years of age and beyond – as long as they don’t actually look their age!!!
In spite of our fixation on eliminating any indication of our actual age, we admittedly make assumptions based on the perceived age of everyone we meet. Be honest, when you’re feeling really sick and your doctor can’t figure out what’s wrong, it doesn’t give you a whole lot of confidence when you’re referred to an expert who looks like they had to ask mom and dad’s permission to leave the prom a little early just to keep your appointment. At the other end of the spectrum, when you’re at your wit’s end trying to figure out why you can’t get all of your wireless devices to communicate appropriately and work in concert, the last thing you want to see is a Civil War veteran tying their horse in your driveway when offering assistance!
It is understandable to draw some conclusions based on a person’s age and what we perceive to be norms. We assume that young people lack a certain amount of knowledge and judgment that generally comes with lifetime experiences, training, the passage of time, and, perhaps, the guidance of those who are older and wiser. By the same token, it is not unreasonable to assume that a great-great grandparent may today lack some of the energy, agility, or technical wizardry they had when they entered the voting booth to cast a ballot the second or third time for one of the Roosevelts!
We all love to say that “age is just a number.” I couldn’t agree more, but I think that our country needs to come to terms with this reality and start to treat people as if we truly believe it. There are thousands of absolutely brilliant, sharp 95 year olds and just as many 25 year olds with a level of knowledge and maturity that totally belies their age. Let’s not assume that someone is too old or too young for anything, but give every person the opportunity to demonstrate, by their actions, who they are and what they can and cannot do.
Stuart Adelberg has a long history of leadership and active involvement in the region’s arts and social services arena. He appreciates the opportunity, provided by Greenwich Sentinel, to share his occasional thoughts and observations.
