Aging is a fact of life, something everyone goes through, but that doesn’t make it any easier. The universality of it should be somewhat comforting, but rather, it’s a reminder that aging is inescapable. No matter how hard we try, with serums and injections, exercise, and eating right, we’re all going to grow old. While this has been something I’ve struggled with, especially now that I’m in my 20s, and that sounds really old, it hasn’t been the part about aging I find the most scary.
Sure, it sucks to have hangovers now when before you seemed invincible, and it’s stressful to feel like you have to have your life all figured out at this age. But what I believe is the even harder fact to come to terms with is that while you’re aging, your parents are, too. Your grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts and uncles, and everyone around you are getting older, just like you. Now, I’m well aware that it seems as if I’m stating the obvious, but growing up, you’re so focused on yourself that you don’t stop and realize that your parents are aging until it’s too late.
Growing old is a beautiful thing that I recognize not everyone has the privilege of, but seeing your parents with graying hair or back problems surely gives you a reality check. Realistically, you know that they’re not going to be this young forever, but it’s an afterthought that you push off for another day, another time. But recently, I’ve had a lot of family members have drastic health issues, and it’s made me realize that I can’t push away the thought of the future until it’s convenient for me to think about.
My parents are getting older and so are my grandparents. It’s a fact of life, yet a hard pill to swallow all at the same time. Being on opposite sides of the country only makes the realization worse. But the point of this statement and article isn’t to stress you out; it’s to make you more grateful. We still have time to spend with our loved ones; we just have to let this realization spiral us into action instead of paralyzing us.
So this is me saying to call your family more. Text your mom. Update your dad. Let your grandparents know you’re okay and not to worry about you.
I know it can be hard to make time for these things, and you can feel guilty for not doing them enough, but it’s never too late to start! Making the most of the time we share with our loved ones is one of the most important things we can do in this life, so we should take advantage of the time we have with them before the clock is up. With this mindset, aging is not something to be afraid of, but rather something that encourages you to make the most of your time, something we all should strive to do!