AGING LIKE FINE WINE
By Nkiru Ogbuli
Have you noticed how gracefully women age these days? Take a good look around and you will see that women in their 40s, and 50s could pass for being in their 30s.
I belong to a group on Facebook and it was time to post pictures according to years of birth. I was pleasantly shocked to see pictures of women born in the 70s. If it were a competition and I, the judge, I would have handed the trophy to the 1977s. Some of them could pass for my younger sisters!
Now, don’t ask my age but if you are that curious, my parents got married in the 80s and I am not the first child. Let’s stay on the subject matter while the ‘amebos’ continue with the mathematics. Lol.
The fact remains that women are aging gracefully and have become bolder in stating their actual ages. Yes, there are still women who do not believe their ages should be public knowledge, I for instance, but they do not also claim to be younger. They just would not tell you and they are well within their rights not to but that brings us to yet another set of women who would not only lie about their ages but do so boldly in the midst their childhood friends. Haba Aunty!
Just the other day, we were having this conversation and the name of a popular Nollywood actress came up. She had just turned “40” and someone said give or take, that lady was not younger than 45. They had attended school together. I was left wondering why she had to lie because going by the factors we adjudged the reasons for people shaving good years off their ages, this person was good in all ramifications. Well, except maybe for marriage. She had been married and divorced. Still!
Let’s take underachievement for example. This lady could be considered an overachiever and very beautiful for the said 45. So what was her reason? If we say ‘the age for employment into the Nigerian workforce’ (subject for an entirely different conversation), she would never have to apply for any job, so again I ask, what was her reason?
I remember when Linda Ikeji turned 40 and stated so. It caused a buzz on the social media because we weren’t accustomed to popular single women ever agreeing they were 40. The argument for, was that Linda had achieved a lot for a 40 year old and that anybody age shaming her would have to think twice.
I think it is time we began to be grateful for being alive first and foremost. Every other thing is secondary. If you look around and see that some of your mates are no more, it should elicit gratitude. But if we still insist on hiding our actual ages, can we agree not to make mockery of ourselves by celebrating ages that are not ours publicly or should I just mind my business?
On a lighter note, have you noticed that the 30+ jokes on social media have drastically reduced? 30s have caught up with everybody! The jokes are gradually shifting to the 40+. They say you guys, (40+) take things too seriously. Lol. Not to worry, 40s will soon catch up with everybody and maybe we would shift the jokes to the 50s, like that, like that.
Let’s celebrate life more than anything else. It is a huge privilege to be alive at any age.
Have a great week!
