I have a new theory about aging in the western world.... the huge number of baby boomers gripping their yourth with both hands have SIGNIFICANTLY changed out perception on aging.
Remember, these are the guys who created youth culture, who embraced liberal politics in the 60ies, didn't trust anyone over 30 in the 70ies and turned Republican Yuppie in the 80ies. In the 90ies, having made their place in the world they started reinventing getting older.... plastic surgery came out of the closet, Botox and wrinkle fillers bacame sexy and the biggest selling pill on the planet was introduced Viagra. Even as thousands of gay men died of AIDS, thousands more reacted by joining gyms and building up powerful, youthful physiques enlisting the help of trainers, nutritionists and drugs.
This huge chunk of the population has simply refused to age. Technology and medicine and our high standard of living have conspired to allow us to cheat time in a way perhaps never before acheived.
The result? Our "ages" have been reset. This is my theory.... we are currently in a situation where we are now 10 years younger than where we should be for our chronological age. In the 70ies, 30 was headed towards middle age.... You were supposed to date through your late teens early twenties, marry in your early to mid twenties, have kids before 30 or very soon after, and be certifyably old by the time you were 40. 40 was middle age, 50 was getting ready to retire, 60 was death. Today I beleive our roles have been set back 10 to 13 years..... People date all through their twenties and early thirties (people marrying in their twenties are almost considered too young by some...) Careers are delaying child bearing well into our thirties and medical science has opened up child bearing years well into the 40ies. The price of homes means most people move out of Mom and Dad's much later and if they buy will probably buy late in their thirties. By the time you reach your 40ies you've just managed to get your life pulled together and have enough money to start living.
The 20ies are the new teenagehood (experimenting getting a feel for the world and what you want to do). Your 30ies are the new 20ies (getting your professional life on the tracks, your emotional life organized and building a toe hold in the world.) Your 40ies are what used to be your 30ies (you have finally accumulated the financial and emotional capital to build your future, fine tune your career and raise a family). Your 50ies are your 40ies (consolidating your power in the world and enjoying what you have acheived). And so on and so on........
So, in that context.... how can anyone think they've had too much by the time their 40, or worse still, Washed up!!! I'm 38 this year and every year I get more and more together and confident about what I'm doing and want. I'm sharing my life with people who are in their 40ies and 50ies and see so much to look forward to. True, you need to take care of yourself to be able to best enjoy the ride, but mature men, in good shape, who are free of the fears and anxieties of youth, who know how to make love, make a good dinner what a fabulous future to look forward to!
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