Mind if I whine about my age for a minute?

Jerry Wilson
Aug 24, 2017 · 2 min read

I always considered myself young — at least young at heart — especially at my age. And I looked the part: mostly healthy, relatively fit, very little grey. No one would believe my real age. Guess I won the gene pool lottery. Indomitable youth that defied my age.

Then an injury — really the accumulated damage of years of little injuries — changed everything. This kind of pain is foreign to me: constant, unyielding, unforgiving. I can’t work, can’t drive, can’t twist a bottle cap. Doctors try, but treatment is slow. Recovery seems far away.

Suddenly I don’t feel so youthful. Definitely not invincible. My body has betrayed me.

For the first time, I feel old.

Now, I find myself in a battle to resist ailment and age.

I try to remember the words of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov who said, “It is forbidden to be old.”

I know that everyone grows old. Aches and pains are part of the deal. And by comparison to many — especially my age — I’m still very lucky. So I tell myself, no one has to be old. It’s not the physical condition that matters most, its the mind.

The old give up. They stop creating.

The young — regardless of age — laugh and learn and chase dreams. They have stories to experience, not just to remember.

I want to act more like that wise rebbe. To him all of life was to be celebrated. Every prayer or moment of study was joy. Each person encountered on the street deserved a warm greeting, perhaps a conversation. Every moment of life was occasion enough for singing, clapping and dancing. Circumstances are just part of landscape. Living is the thing.

Old in years, young in determination.

Aging is undeniable, death is inescapable. We all die of old age, if we live long enough. The clock ticks, the body tires. But the spirit…the spirit does not recognize time. It does not tire and, as near as I can tell, it does not die.

The spirit knows. I still have creating to do.

)
Jerry Wilson

reflecting on life from the seventh inning stretch

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade