You’re Not One Year Older, You’re One Year Better
Jessica was born in 1992. She’s celebrating her birthday. She’s 30. The candles on her cake spell out the words “Forever Young”. Under her name it says, “18 again”. Jessica wishes she was 18 again. She is celebrating her birthday – she has a cake and a party hat and she’s posting her photo on Instagram. She’s going through the motions, but really, she’s depressed. She can’t believe she’s 30. She can’t believe she’s not in her 20s anymore. She wishes she was 18 again. But was being 18 really so great? And even if it was – that doesn’t mean that 30 and 40 and 50 (and so on) won’t be even greater!
We all have unhealthy views toward aging. American culture perpetuates an obsession with youth, for the simple reason that plastic surgery and anti-aging products are multi-billion-dollar industries. But that doesn’t mean that you should obsess about youth too. Let me tell you a little secret: research shows that Americans actually get happier as they age. You don’t believe me? Google it. So, whatever your age is – always have a happy birthday!