Ageing is not a curse nor it is comparable with any stage of life. Every stage is unique and short-lived and needs to be enjoyed. It is the bliss of life. So, enjoy aging and live life to the fullest.
Crabbed age and Youth
"Crabbed age and youth cannot live together:
Youth is full of pleasance, age is full of care;
Youth like summer morn, age like winter weather;
Youth like summer brave, age like winter bare..."
-William Shakespeare
Years ago, when Shakespeare wrote the above lines, he did not realise that senescence can also be bliss. It depends on a person's attitude and their approach to the inevitable stage of life, which must be accepted. Ironically, more often than not, people of middle age constantly poke and ridicule the aged.
Take it easy
One funny phenomenon often seen on social media is suggestions on feeling youthful after turning 60. Other suggestions include ways to feel agile or juvenile. It targets the gullible ageing population. Needless to say, such thought processes create sensation and phobia. Phrases like, ‘How to feel like 16 after 60’, ‘Age is a matter of numbers’, ‘Life starts after fifty’ or like are seen often in bold-face. This tendency ought to be sloughed off. Sooner the better.
After sixty
The psychological symptoms start appearing after the age of sixty. It is the officially announced cut-off date for being bracketed as a ‘Senior Citizen’. The negative factor of uselessness stealthily creeps in, especially in those who retire after more than three decades of service. Increasing age-related problems are mainly, if not completely, due to aversion resulting from rearing feelings of insecurity and helplessness. Endless dos and don’ts prevent older people from living a stress-free life. They always stay on alert about their food, its quantity, and their way of living. https://kamalkishoresrivastava.blog/2024/09/30/a-butterflys-whisper-a-nature-conversation-butterfly-and-its-lifecycle/
Various “well-wishers” crop up, surrounding the aged people, posing as well-wishers. These “well-wishers” start advising older persons to overcome fear by adopting illusory methods. Older people are advised to decive themselves by imagining themselves vigourous and agile like a teenager. The gullible aged statrt behaving like a young person. It is a piquant situation, Persistance on it causes a dotage and senile conditions mixed with decrepitude cause them to behave differently. It leads to exasperation. Regressive thinking ought to be firmly eliminated. Senior citizens, having experienced many highs and lows throughout their lives, are in a phase of maturity. They hold the wisdom to navigate this stage with dignity.
The age-shaming and passing ludicrous remarks on the aged people dishearten them. Ostracizing parents from homes, inhumane behaviour with them and constant demeaning by adult children often come to light. The brawl is often dragged to courts that pass judgements/orders on such cases.
Ageing is eternal
It goes without saying that ageing is a universal and perpetual phenomenon. It is natural. Everyone has to pass through it. It is an intermediary stage between life and death. In India, the improved lifestyle and advanced healthcare system have led to effective disease and pandemic control. The ‘Population ageing’ has become significant, contributing to the progressive increase in the elderly population. As per NSO data, while in 1962 the elderly were 5.6% of the total population, they were 10.1% in 2021. According to the Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections for India and States, the elderly population from 2011 to 2036 amounts to 138 million. (Business Today) It is estimated to reach 194 million in 2031.
The phase has to be accepted with grace, not with panic and exasperation. Keeping in mind the uncertainty of life, an old person must endeavour to keep fit and agile. Pessimism should be a big no and kept at bay. A positive approach with a healthy and happy lifestyle should be adopted. Good or bad, the aged people have had their time. They led lives as per their desires during their heydays. It is time they should gracefully give way to the younger generation. By the same token, the younger generation must behave decently. They need to show affection and care to the family. This buttresses the confidence of sexagenarians and above.
Avoid Panic
Among various do and don’ts mentioned earlier, there is a frequent bogeyman. It is the fear of death by heart attack due to ‘High Cholesterol’ and ‘Fats’, contained in certain food items. Detailing the harmful chemicals that foodstuffs contain is out of the scope of this discourse. Feeding habits are area-based. It depends upon the geographical and climatic conditions of the country. In a fast-shrinking world where the globe is becoming a large community, cultural blending and experimenting with food are common. In the past, we have seen many blends that catalysed the evolution of varieties in food items. The blending, nonetheless, was according to the need and gradual. It gave ample time to assimilate and become part of the culture and climate. Unlike the current scenario, it was not bombarded. People are now being lured and forced to adopt new food by constantly harping at them through aggressive marketing gimmicks. They are forced to change their belief in favour of so-called ‘Fast-food’. This is done insidiously. It cultivates a feeling of being left out if they do not adopt new habits, including food. Projected as a symbol of modernisation and change, it is linked with the economy of employment generation. People are trying to beeline and ape without giving it a thought. Keeping their physical conditions in mind one has to adopt feeding habits prudently.
Blindfold aping leads to body malfunctioning and serious health issues. Elderly people are no exception. Adoption of alien food without reasoning is unhealthy. Pizza, Pasta, Burgers et cetera are the staple foods of Italy and other Western European countries. They, but, consume it with lots of green vegetables without much saute. Majorly, they use raw virgin oil for dressing their food. What to eat and what not to eat is purely a personal choice. People are free to choose the type of their diet. But the choice according to age and physical condition is the best. It applies to senior citizens, especially those who are in a vulnerable position due to their weak health.
Simple is best
Impacting the mind and compelling people to take up new foodstuffs is a marketing gimmick. They try to adjust their junk food to suit Indian taste buds by making it spicy and hot. Their thrust is on taste, not nutritional or calorific value. First, they create liking, provoke to consume, then start giving hype and terrorize about their side effects. It is obvious why, despite so much hype against health risks, multinational fast-food outlets are on a rampant rise. The brands manufacturing and selling aerated drinks and other such products are also popular. It is a vicious cycle resulting from the nexus of the network and multinational/pharma companies.
Food impacts physiological and psychological conditions of the body and is related to geriatrics. Contextually, Indian food is balanced and proper. Freshly cooked food is free from contamination and infection. In India, people do not often use canned, frozen, or preserved food items but habitually consume freshly prepared food. Light, easily digestible, and healthy food is good at the advanced stage of life. Even occasional intake can harm them. Affected by media hype and family conditions, senior and aged members do not get food properly. The elderly need independence and financial security.
Change is for good, Accept it with grace
Ancient India had a scientifically designed system of ‘Ashram’ for regulated, disciplined human life. There are four compartmentalised stages. These stages,‘Brahmcharya’, ‘Grihastha’, ‘Vanprastha’, and ‘Sanyaas’ – were for the proper and graceful performance of duties in life. In Ramayana, King Dushrath saw his greying sideburns in a mirror. He thought and decided to transfer his kingdom to his eldest son Ram. Furthermore, he would retreat to the forest, as per the custom of time.
Ageing is not a curse, as Shakespeare said in his poem. It is not comparable with any stage of life. Every stage is unique and short-lived and needs to be enjoyed. It is the bliss of life; live the moment to the fullest.
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