A friend and I (both of us women) were chatting about growing old...we were wondering why it was so difficult to grow old in our country...of course these were our own thoughts...
We felt there were many things involved - For one, our society tends to put all women, after their children have left home, bang on the shelf. So there we are, feeling fresh and full of vitality - on the shelf. We are not only considered old, but friends and family seem to go out of their way to treat us as if we already have one foot in the grave...they insist that we cannot do the things that we want - you're old, remember? It is a rare person who will accept a 'perceived old lady' dancing in the rain (so to speak) - our place is in temples and churches, chanting shlokas and prayers. Travel, and enjoy yourself? You've got to be joking - the only travel is either to the nearest place of worship, or on a pilgrimage. Trendy clothes? (never mind the figure, we might just love wearing these) - awwwwwwwwwwwwwww - that's a total no-no--heavens, what are you thinking? (of course we too have a tendency to let ourselves go - after all our kids are grown up!). Have fun? What? our place is still in the kitchen turning out meal after meal after meal. And the list goes on and on...Check out the 'old' ladies abroad - fresh and full of vitality and NOT on the shelf...
Could it be that as we grow older, we cease to care about ourselves, while when ladies abroad grow older, they have a whole new life to look forward to? Consequently they look slim and trim and fit and take on new challenges and try new things.
Could it be that we are deprived, somehow, of a support system that says, 'Go for it gal! you can do it!' ?
Could it also be that we have become so complacent and feel so at ease that we are a smug-snug-fit in the comfort zone that we have created?
Could it be that we lack the courage to live as we grow older? - Of course, we all become vulnerable and less strong mentally and physically, but should these natural processes limit us?
Could it be that we have allowed our backbone to get weak and so have traded our spunk for the easy way out? (it's very easy to sit on the shelf) or bartered our mettle for the safety that meekness brings? or exchanging our confidence for a perceived uncertainty...