Skip to main content

Life begins at age 40...

Or how about "40 is the new 20's". These are some of the new mantras that we 40'ers proudly chant about. After all, we can't admit that mid-life is dull, boring, uninteresting or full of creepy 'been-there-done-that' kind of feelings all day. Well, we can but we won't.

Nah, I'm just kidding. Age 40 is when true liberation begins. Let's see here. You are not as naive as in 'people taking you for a huge ride' 20's anymore or so much focused on 'things that seem so important but turns out not later on' 30's anymore. Finally, voila.....you're in the magical, mystical, 'figuring out whatever you did so far is completely foolish or utterly wasteful' 40's.

That's not exactly bad news as it obviously looks. There's a silver lining somewhere hidden that I seem to have missed completely. Oh yes, now I know. Got it. All these sudden awakenings should lead you to realise something more important - you are given one more chance to undo things, create that sparkle in your otherwise pathetic life. In other words, rejuvenate those aging brain cells and give a fresh lease to that pruning body of yours. Go kayaking, rafting, surfing (nice try, but not the interNET), dancing, singing. Or how about archery, anyone? The idea is to do something that is totally not you. Shock yourself, for a big change.

Please remember to take in, digest and process all this pep talk when you start those salsa sessions. Learn to ignore the looks you might get by sassy teens or those smirky 30'ers. Be brave, hold your withering head high. One word of caution though. Have the ambulance numbers in hand. Just in case you ever, ever need them.

Popular posts from this blog

Minding the language...

So, the ability to use language as a mode of communication is one of the main differentiating factor between us and the rest of our primate friends. It gives us that crucial "one-up" to dominate the earthly scene, making us feel all superior. Of course, we easily gloss over the fact that some of us can share so many other traits with the animal kingdom - don't we have enough samples of sly foxes, wise owls, slimy weasels, scared chickens, sharp eagles, vain peacocks etc all around us? Makes one raise an important, poignant question: are we so different after all? Me thinks nah, not so much. More on this topic, it's also fascinating that there are around 3000-6000 languages spoken by us humans around the world (as per our friend "Wise Wiki"). In India, even if you're linguistically-challenged like me, there should be an average of at least two languages acquired over a life time by each person (this is my own extrapolation, so please don't ana...

Human Needs and Relationships......Part 2

continued from part 1..... Let's start from the bottom of Maslow's pyramid, which is Physiological & Safety needs . These are our basic survival ones like eating, breathing, clothing and, living under a decent roof. The human mind will come to grinding stop if these are not met, and you'll be unable to even think about the next level of needs. Don't believe me? Try dieting/fasting for a day, and you'll be amazed how your fat brain (please, it's a compliment) which used to process complicated thoughts like the greenhouse effect, looming elections, world economy etc. till the day before, can obsessively think of only one thing and nothing else now, which would be the magical, four-letter manna - FOOD. Anyways, these needs would probably come from the closest relationship of all, i.e. parents or caregivers. And, from an evolution point of view, would be our Infant/Childhood stage. Next, is the Love/Belonging needs, which deals with our sense of ...

You and your compass....

Let's talk about what each and every one of us have within ourselves. That deep, down voice that tells us strongly what to do, not to do, what we ought to do but choose not to and regret later on with a "I-told-me-so", things that we wish to do but dare not try in our lifetime....you get the drift. Yes, it is that all-pervading, metaphorical inner compass, or the SatNavs of our lives that I'm getting into. Young adults  think they have an independent mind, and do and act that way. In reality, though, in most of the cases, it's not even of their own choice, but out of peer pressure. Which interestingly, brings a point- whose collective, mob voice is it then? If everyone is busy copying someone else doing the same, then who the heck started the fire? No clue, but let's assume for sanity's sake that some life form starts a trend which gets viral, bacterial, whatever. And, suddenly there's a strong urge that compels every youngster to do it ...