Age, Choices and Perceptions

Age and Choices

Hello Homo sapiens, 

Let's start this wonderful day with some hard hitting questions shall we!

"Aren't you way too old to watch cartoons?"

"Why do you wear so much makeup at such a young age?"

If you've been subjected to any of these above questions then I hope that you continue reading. Your girl is in the mood for wearing her heart on her sleeve so you might as well get a kick out of it. Let's create a drinking game out of this entire heart to heart conversation, take a shot every time you see the word 'age'.

Since time immemorial, we've been literally programmed to believe that our age and our subsequently changing physical appearances are important parameters of acceptance within the society. This notion is so flawed that we often forgot the role played by us within said society and its overly complex notions.

The process of ageing is very predictable and natural. Ageing in itself isn't a social construct but the idea that age influences one's personality and behavioural expectations is socially constructed. If there was a world where I wasn't aware of my own age then I wouldn't be the person I am today. I have always been what others would call a typical goody two shoes with my straight As, virtuous character and most importantly a lack of romantic relationships. I hope this doesn't constitute as oversharing because if it does then it's not like I am ever meeting any of you. Hiding behind a screen has its advantages.

The qualities that I endowed has never been a façade, it has always been a major part of who I am. When I had turned sixteen, the idea of teenagers being rebellious just plagued my mind. The fact that I wasn't a rebel made me feel like an outsider and I often acted out because I believed that this was what I was expected to do. 

This whole stigma of classifying young minds into so called 'cliques' like nerds, rebels, bimbos and so on is so trivial and superficial yet so detrimental that it often makes us lose touch with who we are. Raise your hand if you can relate to this and share your experiences in the comments section below. 

Imagine a life free of the clutches and obstacles of age. Think about each and every small moment in your life which would drastically change if something like this was going to happen. This is called the reverse ripple effect which talks about how big or major events in our lives have continual consequences. 

There are tons of tiny insignificant moments in my life which would be rather enjoyable without the constant reminder of the age factor. Disney and Pixar films have been the backbone of my childhood and I still feel a sense of glee and excitement coursing through my veins whenever I watch these films. I want to watch these films without being repeatedly told that they are meant for children. Belle fell in love with the Beast because of the huge library that he gifted her and not his big heart. I want to warn you guys to not fight me over my analysis because the petty side of me likes winning arguments about Disney characters.

Isn't it so refreshing to have these totally random and juvenile conversations without someone constantly reminding you about your age?

The saddest fact is that we have even designated activities which give us happiness into these age suitable categories. I have this analysis that the human kind is a species of masochists, we pretend to enjoy activities which give us pain and leave our heart feeling  devoid of  joy and content.

 I sincerely feel that I've reached the peak of my oversharing abilities. I want to conclude this by saying that there's nothing more beautiful and pure than reconnecting with every aspect of yourself without the constraint of age. Try it sometime and you may surprise yourself :')

Signing off

Yours Truly

Ritwika