Summary

The article discusses the benefits and dynamics of socializing with people of different ages, emphasizing the joy and mutual growth that can come from spending time with younger individuals.

Abstract

The author reflects on the positive experiences of interacting with younger people, suggesting that while age brings inevitable physical and mental changes, it should not be a barrier to forming friendships or dictate how one behaves in social settings. The article argues that being cognizant of one's age is important for making necessary adjustments in life, but it should not be an impediment to enjoying life and forming cross-generational relationships. The author shares personal anecdotes about blending seamlessly with younger groups without pretending to be younger or positioning themselves as a mentor, highlighting the importance of being oneself and not conforming to societal expectations about age. The piece also cites research and quotes from notable figures to support the idea that intergenerational interactions are beneficial for both younger and older people, leading to improvements in various aspects of life such as skills, knowledge, and well-being.

Opinions

Age is a factor that influences physical and mental changes, but it should not dominate one's identity or social life.
It is important to acknowledge the effects of aging while also maintaining a youthful mindset and adaptability.
Interacting with younger individuals can provide older people with fresh perspectives and vitality, and vice versa.
Authenticity in relationships is crucial; one should not change their behavior drastically to fit in with a younger crowd.
Society's norms regarding age should not dictate personal interactions or friendships.
The benefits of cross-generational friendships extend to both parties, fostering mutual growth and understanding.
Children, in particular, are adept at accepting people regardless of age, offering a pure form of friendship.
The relevance of age in relationships is largely a matter of personal perspective.

Be Happy To Hang Out With People Younger Than You

Frequently I find myself in groups of people younger than me and it is good

People are always saying that age is just a number. Is it?

We don’t want to get hung up on age or start feeling old only because of it, for sure. But how do you act like it is a non-factor?

Age is inescapable and you don’t get around it by pretending it does not matter. The changes that happen in your body and mind as you get old are real. The good and the bad that time creates in you is inevitable.

“At the biological level, ageing results from the impact of the accumulation of a wide variety of molecular and cellular damage over time.” — W.H.O

“These changes (brain shrinkage, reduction of neuron communications, decrease in blood flow, increase in inflammation) in the brain can affect mental function, even in healthy older people.” — N.I.A.

A few people may be gifted and/or manage to overcome the ravages of time, but they are the exceptions. But all they have done is to manage the situation created by time; not found a way to avoid it.

The real question is, should you let age impact you? The answer is, yes and no.

What do I mean by that?

For sure, you should be cognizant of it, but don’t get weighed down by it. Being aware is one thing, being hurt is another.

Awareness is required as are the adjustments. But we don’t need to be bogged down by it.

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

With that said, what do you do when it comes to your friends?

In many stages of my life, I have found myself being with people younger, some times much younger, than me. Aided by looking younger than my age at times, I could have gotten away with the pretense of being a younger person. But many of them knew the age difference. What was important was that they did not care about it. So long as I was comfortable, so were they.

“Count your age by friends, not by years.” — John Lennon

Of course, I hung out with friends of my age as well. And with some people who were much older than me.

I do not claim that this situation is unique to me. Most people are likely to have a mix of friends — from different ages, genders, races, etc. What I feel was different — was that I moved with the younger groups a lot, more than the groups of my age.

My approach when I was with them was: I did not try to be the senior person, the one with advice to give to them, a mentor, etc. I wanted to and stayed as their friend like any other.

“How old would you be, if you didn’t know how old you are?” — Satchel Paige

I did not pretend to be young or hide my age. It did not come up and I did not force it. Maybe some of my friends were aware, maybe they were not — it was not an issue for them either.

Sometimes someone who was aware would joke about it and we would laugh it off. There were some for who it was an issue and we kept our distance. And that was ok too.

It might seem as if I was hiding my age to fit in with a younger crowd. That’s not true. I just did not see a need to bring it up. Or use it as a reason to be someone that I was not. Why do something just to fit some perceived norms?

“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” — Mark Twain

About the best part of all this is my friendship with children. Truly, they are the masters of accepting a person for who they are and not what their age is. I am grateful for their friendship.

This does not even take into account the benefits of being with people younger than you.

“Involving young people in an organisation or in the community benefits everyone.” — Yerp

I would add friendship groups to the list above.

You may ask why younger people would want to hang out with older people then? Because the benefits go both ways.

“Research shows improvements in skills, opportunities, knowledge, health and well-being for younger and older people.” — Yerp

What I have learned from all this is:

Always be yourself.
Don’t try to change, and in turn affect others, in order to fit some societal norms.
Age is not just a number. But it’s relevance to you and your relationships is entirely in your mind.