THE OLD AND THE NEW

Following on from the senses topic as mentioned previously, many of our older gens don’t have the inept capacity or understanding of our senses as much as the younger, now generation do as the topic of emotions and senses was not so widely discussed or even really allowed way back when

The system of the older gens was build on industrialising hard work ethos and with that, crying at your desk or openly expressing your feelings in any form were generally not the way things got done

Now, we’re seeing a much more sentient, empathically attuned generation has emerged and they are far more emotionally intelligent and expressive in comparison to the stern, cold period of our past

So, with that said, let’s look at some of the ways that AGE DEFINES OUR IDENTITY and also ways it doesn’t as we blend the old world and the new together in these vastly different timelines

Age identity is thus understood as a multidimensional concept including specific aspects of personal aging and general views of what it means to be old and also, respectively, young

Age Identity vs. Chronological Age

In this regard, subjective age is subsumed under the umbrella term of “awareness of ageing” that also includes self-perceptions of ageing, stereotypes regarding older adults, and awareness of age-related change. So, is age just a number?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO AGE?

I work with 12 year olds in a school throughout the mornings and I also work on the odd occasion with our older community, popping in for a cup of tea to check in on them as, explained in the audio part for this project that you can find above, our older community here are ex-pat and don’t have a lot of family around nor are there care homes as is the norm in home countries, so I like to go and spend some time with them to make sure they’re ok

I cannot emphasise enough the vast difference between a conversation with a 12 year old and that of a 92 year old. 

WORLDS APART

Yet one seeded the other and the other will seed what is to come, right?

In our PORTAL 2 ‘The art of cycle syncing’, where we looked at hormones and the physical body, primarily the female body, one of our participants created a beautiful piece called ‘The Russian Dolls’, where she painted a collection of ancestral dolls from generations before to the tiny doll in the now moment and it was to emphasise the point that we are only in the now as we are because of where we came from

Well, this is exactly the case is it not? However, we have a vast void between the older gens now and the younger gens and it’s got to a point where it’s almost like the 2 don’t live in the same world as each other because they are just so different. And different to a point where one refuses to acknowledge the existence of the other and vice versa

I grew up with grandparents being influential figures in my life as a child whereas now, that isn’t such the norm anymore. If you’re someone that does have a great relationship or your children still do with the older gens, you’re super lucky! 

But how do we let age define us?

The younger generation now are just so different to how we used to be. Ok, they do still have a remnant of a 90’s vibe in terms of re-living some of our old music, simply because it’s far better than the swill that exists now that is barely music at all but for the most part, the younger gens are living in a bit of a lost world. 

They haven’t yet moved into an evolved and established space that is definitively constructed and able to be understood so they are just sort of hovering, wasting their youth away because we as older gens aren’t sure how to properly guide them into what we can’t yet see or understand, nor do we have time to because the world is on fast track high speed right now, they’re just sort of being forgotten about…..

 “Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”

But as a 45 year old, do I feel 45? NO WAY! I’m still in my early 20’s. And as a 20 year old, did I act and behave like a 20 year old from the early 00’s? No, I loved watching old movies, listening to old jazz, classical music and things from way back when because it gave my experience way more purpose

I also have to say that most of my really good friends right now, are either younger than me (because I love the energy of youthfulness and really enjoy their chats) or are in their 70’s because I love listening to their stories or times way back when. 

Just because I’m apparently 45 doesn’t mean I’ll only hang out with 45 year olds and stick myself in that bracket of ‘where I am age wise’ and that be my only domain

NO WAY – My mum is my best friend as are my kids and outside of them, I like to keep the friends age range open. Do you?

Do you let your age define you?

Is age just a number?

Do you still feel youthful?

Do you still enjoy all the things you used to when you were younger?

Do you feel like the older you get, the wiser you become?

In the section to come, ‘THE ORGS AND THE MECS’, we will be looking into the differences and unities between the organic world and human and the mechanical world and human. And how with the fast approaching advancements with tech, we can reverse age ourselves and acquire eternal youth

But, can we also do that without the need of tech or AI enhancements? Is the human body organically able to reverse age or at least prevent drastic ageing?

What is the cause of ageing?

How can we defy it?

Should we defy it?

Isn’t ageing surely a beautiful part of our human evolutionary journey?

“Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.” —Franz Kafka

When I wrote the book ‘DEAR CHILD’, I spent a lot of time referencing the difference between the shifts in the ages and times and how when we get older and are responsible for raising our young, it is essential to have matured into our wiser stages to be able to safely guide our young and raise them to be strong, independent versions of themselves. 

If we haven’t done that and we’re still wallowing around in trauma of our past and not learned the lessons of growth, development and responsibility we aren’t able to show up for our young in a way that is necessary for them to take the lead as they get older

AND SO WE ENTER INTO AN IDENTITY CRISIS – ONE WHERE OUR AGE GETS IN THE WAY

CYCLES CIRCLE AND SHIFT AND WE HAVE TO PLAY OUR ROLES ACCORDINGLY

“Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional.” —Walt Disney

I also asked the question – Are we all just extensions of each other travelling through time and space, shifting and ageing, or rather developing as we go?

Are my children just future extensions of me (I know they’re their own beings for sure) but did my mum seed them when I was born and much like the Russian doll effect, we create and manifest new versions of ourselves through our own creative ability (sex) and that seed carries the past and future consciousness with it and embodies it in the present moment?

DEEP HUH!

And this is the entire nature of the topic of……

WHO ARE WE?

“Getting older makes you more alive. More vitality, more interest, more intelligence, more grace, more expansion.” —Jamie Lee Curtis

WE ARE THE EXPANSE! WE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN, WE ALWAYS WILL BE. WE’RE JUST RIDING THE WAVE ON A NUMBER AND A FEELING

OK, moving on…..

Though if you are interested in looking into any artistic or creative pieces that you might like to try your hand at while considering this topic in particular, you could look at a couple of the examples below for inspiration

FOR THOSE WANTING TO BLEND THE OLD AND NEW TIMELINES THROUGH MOTION MAGIC:

A look over our historical past timeline is a really beautiful thing so, here are a few movie recs for you if you want to explore worlds from way back when with your kids / grandkids etc

• The Wizard of Oz
• Some Like it Hot
• Casablanca
• All about Eve
• Anna Karenina
• The sound of music
• Breakfast at Tiffany’s
• Titanic
• The good, the bad and the ugly
• A star is born
• Alice in Wonderland
• Mary Poppins
• My fair lady
• Little women
• The Godfather
• The lady vanishes
• The way we were

COMING UP NEXT…..

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