One of the Benefits of Getting Older

When I was younger I was often asked questions that irritated me. Why did I do something? Why didn’t I do something? Wouldn’t it be easier if I did X? Wouldn’t it be easier if I didn’t do X? When you are younger, those questions and the ones about marriage, number of children, amount you were earning all seemed like a personal attack, whoever was asking it. I always felt defensive and occasionally angry depending upon who was asking me the question. I suppose it was years of bullying at school but I always assumed that any questions were for the worst reasons and to somehow trip me up. I gave off an angry young man vibe well after I was young!!

Fast forward to my current situation and no one is really that bothered about me or asking me questions beyond the most basic, ‘How are you?’ and that is absolutely fine with me! As you get older you get more and more invisible to the world. Some people bemoan the fact but I welcome it because you can walk along in the margins of life left to your own devices. No one outside your close circle is interested in your marriage, family or career so you don’t have to answer to anyone who doesn’t matter. Janet will ask me questions about various things but I know her questions come from a place of love so that’s fine. When people you don’t know very well are asking you those questions they seldom are.

So, look forward to your declining years, as they used to be called, as irritating questions from irrelevant people become a thing of the past!