Young vs. Old

90% of people are enthusiastic volunteers for old age. Bizarre but true.

An injured / compromised oldster is no different from an injured / compromised youngster. The difference is, the young person wants to get better. The young person works at getting better. The youngster sees a hopeful, better future. The injured / compromised young person envisions himself improved, stronger, better, happier, with a better physique in the coming weeks and months, whereas the oldster envisions and works tirelessly toward achieving the exact opposite, methodically concocting justifications to support their lack of effort and self-care.

 It is an indisputable fact that fitness and strength matter very little to people the older they get, which is wildly counter-intuitive. If you’re an older person and such excuses drive your general outlook on life, then that’s all on you. Who in their right mind welcomes infirmity? Who does not fight against weakness and immobility? Who decides to become obese at a time in life when their muscle and bone simply cannot handle dead weight, or tolerate the toll that added weight takes on their overall health, on their mobility, agility and optimism?

Old People, that’s who.

You can diminish yourself, your abilities and your goals in life by adopting the same excuses and rationalizations that 90% of all old people adopt. Or not. Getting fat is giving up. Descending into a state of compromised health, becoming less active physically thereby intentionally losing the very bone and muscle mass that you are made up of is a deliberate act. Surrendering your power, autonomy and independence and ultimately your life is crazy. Yet this is what the majority of older people sign up for.

The choice of such a lifestyle is not the result of physical illness, but rather mental illness. There’s no shame in seeking therapy. Brave people do it every day.