Getting Older Doesn’t Mean Life’s Over, So Enjoy Every Minute Of It

Gerascophobia is what they call the fear of getting older, and even the word sounds horrifying. Let’s face it: no matter how much we want to stay young forever, we’re still aging every day. It’s kind of depressing when you think about it that way, but there’s not a damn thing we can do about it. What we can do is stop wasting our time worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the good’s that ahead and your irrational fears about aging will fade away.

1. You know what you want and who you are. How many of us actually knew what we wanted in our 20s? Not many. The older you get, the more certain you are of what you want in life. With each passing year, you get more confident and you don’t worry about pleasing anyone but yourself.
2. It’s easier to do whatever you want. College loans, finding a place to live, learning to manage your finances…. Sound familiar? It’s hard to find money to do anything when you’re young. You can actually do more than drink cheap beer and hope for a free ladies’ night. Age means you have a solid job with money. Imagine the possibilities!
3. Nothing’s stopping you from living. I turned 31 this year. I got up, realized nothing had changed, and ate way the hell too much cake. Your age doesn’t keep you from living. Do what makes you happy, whether you’re 20 or 50.
4. You still have friends and family. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but you’re not the only one getting older. Your friends and family are aging right along with you, so it’s not like you’re losing anyone. You’re all in this together.
5. You’re still attractive. I know it’s tempting to jump into a relationship as quickly as possible just because you’re still single and just got another year older, but that’s a horrible reason. You were attractive years ago, still are now, and still will be years from now. Be confident in who you are, no matter how old you are.
6. You spend less time taking crap. Once upon a time, I cared what others thought. As I’ve gotten a little older, I honestly don’t give a damn. I have better things to do than put up with other people’s crap, and so do you. With age comes the wisdom and attitude to just let it all go.
7. Happiness comes with age. Sure, your teens and 20s are fun, but the older you get, the more you realize you’re actually happier. You end up with better friends, you get closer to your family, find a career you love, maybe start a family, and just enjoy life more.
8. You still have goals ahead of you. Congrats if you’ve managed to accomplish your life-long goals already. For the majority of us, those goals are still in progress. Getting older just gets you closer to achieving them. See, life’s not over. You still have plenty to work towards.
9. You turn into a mentor. OK, so this one scares me. I’ve already had a few younger people look up to me. I don’t really see myself this way, but it’s just a perk that comes with age. Suddenly, you turn into a role model. It’s terrifying, but a major ego boost at the same time.
10. It’s the best thing that can happen to you. With every passing year, you make new memories, uncover new opportunities, and try new things. Seriously, the older you get, the more awesome life seems to be. Just take care of yourself and you’ll realize older just means better.
11. You have more control. With age comes great responsibility, or something like that. Remember how you used to envy your grandparents? They didn’t have to listen to anyone. They controlled their own lives completely. Ergo, each year gives you more control over your own life.
12. Your personality grows. As you settle into being yourself instead of trying to be what others want you to be, your personality comes to the surface more. This means you’re even happier and draw more like-minded people to you.
13. We’re all doing it. No one can escape getting older. I guess some people try that whole head freezing thing when they die, but I’ll pass, thank you. Remember, you’re not alone. Look around you at everyone who’s still making the most of every day. Think life’s over? Think again.
14. There are better things to do. Go ahead and lock yourself in your room and cry about your age. We all need that moment for reality to sink in. When you’re done, get off your ass and start living. There are far better things to do than worry about your age. You can’t fix it, so ignore it.