This year was the summer of my 20th High School reunion.
A little background... we moved when I was 15, just starting the 10th grade. Prior to that I had lived in the same small town all my life. I'd known most of the kids I went to school with all my life.
Okay, back to the story.
I was invited to both the reunion in the town where I grew up and the one where I actually graduated. I went to neither, but I did get sent a link to pictures of the reunion in my hometown. I recognized one, maybe two people. Mostly though, I kept thinking: "This can't be my class. These people look OLD! They look about 40 (which they nearly are)! I don't look that old, do I?"
I've since been assured I do not, in fact, look "that old". A nice lady who did my nails last week assumed I was 27ish (not the 38 I really am), so it's even been reinforced by people who don't know me. Existential crisis averted. Yay! It left me wondering though... what is it that makes these other people look so much old, and me not?
Is it just a matter of genes? Have a really lived that much cleaner and healthier a life than they have? Or is it something else in their lifestyle. Perhaps something like the fact that most of the are married (multiple times even ) and have kids, while I do not?
I know genes play a factor, and I have pretty good ones looks and aging-wise (thanks mom and dad!), but I don't think that's all it is. I highly doubt that I've lived significantly cleaner and healthier. I think the marriage and kids thing really plays a factor. People joke that kids - in particular - age a person, but I think there's a fair amount of truth in that. We know that stress ages people, and when I think about the amount of stress I feel just thinking about the responsibilities of the kitten I will soon be bringing home... I can't even begin to fathom the amount of stress that must be entailed in being responsible for a little human life! More power to you if you've chose that route. I'm just glad it's not me (and not just because I look younger).
Original source: http://lahautbicherie.wordpress.com/?p=44
