Anuradha, my next door neighbour in her mid fifties, remembers clearly how excited and happy she was on realizing that she can actually ride a bicycle.This was at a very young age of 10, but in due course she had to start sharing her favourite Atlas bicycle with her younger brother and thereafter hardly ever got the chance to ride it freely.
Recently, while vacationing in Goa she found lot of tourists hiring bicycles and exploring the picturesque place on their own. She immediately felt the desire to get on a bike and feel the sea breeze on her face.
Hesitantly, she told her family members this – and the reactions she got ranged from “What! At this age?!” to genuine concern that she might hurt and injure herself. Nonetheless, none too encouraging.
This dampened her spirit and she spent rest of her holiday trying to concentrate on the novel she was carrying. Until she got a call from her 20-year-old niece in Mumbai.
While talking to her the young girl could sense that something was bothering Anuradha. She pestered and Anuradha finally told her how bad she is feeling to accept that she is no more good enough for many things in life.
Her niece, unlike her peers, had a totally different reaction . She was all excited and thrilled to know her aunty used to ride a bicycle as a teenager . She was happier to learn Anuradha now wants to give it a try once again. With her encouraging words and support Anuradha regained her enthusiasm.
Next morning she hired a bicycle for the day overlooking the expressions of her group members. Initially she was bit nervous and hesitant. After many tries she overcame her nervousness and took a slow and small ride. Now she knew she had not forgotten the skill. Only needed a bit more practice.Anuradha was glowing when she told me her little vacation story. She has plans to buy her own bicycle and ride in the neighbourhood.
Anuradha is like all of us. In fact, we all after crossing 40 start facing negativities from every corner as and when we take a small step out of stereotypical ways of life. Especially women in smaller towns. This is when we need to send out a strong message - ‘It’s my life, I am in charge of it, so let me decide what I want to do in my life.’
A strong, determined, positive attitude towards life, a general interest in health and fitness and never considering yourself ‘irrelevant’ or ‘too old’ for anything that interests you are three tentpoles of a wholesome life. As we age instead of paying attention to the section of people with notions like ‘at this age‘,we all should concentrate on enhancing our self ability.
To maintain a physical balance while ageing we all must start loving ourselves afresh. We must rejuvenate and inculcate our hobbies, reignite our passion for all such activities, which we longed to take part in, but could not earlier. We should love our bodies as well and take good care of it.
After all who doesn’t want to look good and healthy, and get appreciation? Today’s market offers the choicest of clothes range to choose your desired outfit within your budget.
We must try to remain well dressed all through our lives. Youtube has so many videos that can teach you how to stay fit with basic exercise, and eat right.
The insignifant number for 40+
These, of course, are just examples. My larger point being, do whatever you feel like – don’t let thoughts like ‘log kya kahenge’ or ‘at this age’ ever stop you from becoming the best version of yourself whatever your definition may be.
Science confirms its positive attitude that can beat the aging process more than anything else, helping one to live a happier, healthier and more energetic life. Your birth certificate is a just a piece of paper containing some insignificant number. Middle age is the time to look around and climb the stairs once again in search of new highs.