What 5 or 6 year old does not anticipate starting school? It is so exciting and is controlled by numbers (age). There can be other numbers as a child ages such as 16 to drive a car, but the most significant age in everyone's young life is 18 years old. You get to do a lot of things when you become 18. You can vote, you can get a real job, and even move out legally from under your parent's guidance if you want. The number 21 is important to some because you can legally buy and drink liquor.
The numbers just keep going. When you reach 30 you supposedly leave your youth. Some women think that this is a number to reach before you have a baby. And when you are in your 20's, 30 does seem so old. We are conditioned to think this way.
Now when 40 comes along the feelings of age start to hint that old age is approaching. And 50 makes you a senior in most cases. When I reached 50 the ranges of age that determined all kinds of things had 50 and older as the last range, or as I interpreted it, 50 until death.
Now as we boomers get older and get healthier the ranges have changed or varied. Sometimes 50 is the lower level but sometimes it's not. I am glad because so many people are living longer and longer - some into their 100's, and it would a shame to say that US society lives most of its life as an old person. The government is even worrying about the number 65 for Medicare.
If you have read my blog since the beginning you know how I feel about the word OLD. I have met some very serious, old 20 year olds, haven't you? And I know some childish people in their 70's. So what's in a number except stereotypes?
I am not a stereotype and I bet you are not either. I have some health issues that I have inherited from family genes, but I can still lift weights and work out in a gym. I still read, think, and play as I once did when I was a younger number. So let's blow everyone's mind and be young! Mess up those statistics that determine the numbers. Maybe one day old will be 90 and up, and I bet the 90 year olds will resent it.