Are You Old Yet?

It would be interesting to know the exact point when one becomes old. Sure, Mark Twain said, “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.” Even so, Henri Amiel did have a point when he said, “To know how to grow old is the master-work of wisdom, and one of the most difficult chapters in the great art of living.” Without knowing when old is, you might never get around to the master-work of wisdom. Now just how disappointing would that be, finding out you were already old and had missed out on your wisdom work?

Fortunately, there are a few hints about when old starts, although identifying the exact point may not be possible. For example, John Barrymore thought, “A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.” Oliver Wendell Holmes believed, “Old age is fifteen years older than I am.” Henry David Thoreau also hinted at the answer, “None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.”

H.L. Mencken suggested knowing when to start your wisdom work may not have anything to do with old, anyway. “The older I grow the more I distrust the familiar doctrine that age brings wisdom.” Tom Wilson seemed to agree, “Wisdom doesn't necessarily come with age. Sometimes age just shows up all by itself.” Sure, that’s a pretty scary prospect; but Kurt Vonnegut hit on what the most alarming part of this old thing really is. “True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country.” Now is that enough to leave you shaking your head or what?