7 Intriguing Ways to Find Out Your Actual Age

Age

How old are you?

Age, they say, is just a number. People also say that age is a state of mind and that you’re only as old as you feel. According to science, we all have a chronological age and a cognitive age.

Whereas our chronological age is the number of years we have been alive on earth, our cognitive age is how old we feel. In other words, our cognitive age refers to our state of mind. Our cognitive age thus has a great bearing on our attitudes, our beliefs and how we behave in general.

Here are 7 intriguing ways to find out how old you are:

1. State of Mind

Are you open-minded or narrow-minded? Is your thinking process rigid, as in: “We have always done things this way so this is the only right way to do it!”

Also, do you usually say this? : “This has never been done before so it cannot be done!”

Being narrow-minded is a characteristic of old people who are set in their ways. Thus, whether you are 20 years old or 70 years old, exhibiting these characteristics will lead to people perceiving you as being old.

Or, on the other hand, are you open to new ways of doing things? Being open-minded and conscious of new possibilities is a sign of youth.

2. Sense of Curiousity and Adventure

Are you curious and adventurous? Do you have a sense of curiousity about what else is out there? Do you also seek out new experiences? This could be in the nature of travel (both local and international), sampling new dishes, making new friends and going out of your comfort zone. We refer to youthful exuberance as showing curiosity, excitement and a zest for life.

Or, conversely, do you prefer to stick to the same routine, day in, day out, year after year? Are you obsessed with maintaining the status quo and self-preservation? In your mind, is your life already over? As such, are you just waiting patiently for death? People see these traits as characteristics of the aged.

A quote by the American journalist, Hunter S. Thompson, comes to mind. It says:

“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, ‘Wow, what a ride’. “

Death is inevitable and will happen when it will. However, what is the achievement of entering the grave with a perfect body, when you are, after all, dead? Whereas I do not advocate living a reckless life, is it really worth it to deprive ourselves of meaningful experiences in life in the name of self-preservation?

I know a 77 year old lady who is very enthusiatic about life and about having new experiences. Conversely, I have a 28 year old friend who refuses to sample new dishes and sticks to a strict daily routine. Who is old?

3. Continuous Learning

Are you a lifelong student? This does not mean being perpetually in the classroom in school and learning for a PhD. Rather, do you strive to learn something new regularly? This could be in the nature of reading for general education or for pleasure. You could also learn a new language, polish your ICT skills and be open to learning how to use new gadgets.

Additionally, you could pick up a new hobby, such as learning how to sew, to bake or to garden. On the whole, learning should not be confined to the classroom and should continue as long as possible.

Being a lifelong student makes you stay young, regardless of your age. If you have stopped learning at 21 years, you are old.

4. Stuck in the Past

Are you stuck in the past? Are you always reminiscing about the good old days and how easy things were in the past? Do you dread the future? These are characteristics of the aged.

Or, on the other hand, are you excited about what the future holds? Do thoughts about the future fill you with a sense of wonder? Do you look forward to new opportunities? If this describes you, then you are young.

5. Physical Activity

Do you engage in any form of physical activity? Do you walk on a daily basis, do some aerobics and generally try to have an active lifestyle? Barring any disease or mobility issues, engaging in moderate physical activity reduces stress, maintains good health and ensures a good brain function.

Or, conversely, do you have a sedentary lifestyle? Do you grunt and groan when in the process of kneeling down to pick something or even when standing up after sitting for a while?

I have seen teenagers who are too lazy to even lift a finger. On the contrary, I know of people who are active in their seventies and eighties. Age is indeed just a number.

6. Social Life

Do you have a healthy social life? This does not refer to being a super extrovert who is the life and light of every party. Neither does it refer to being a social butterly, flitting from one place to another.

Rather, this refers to whether you have genuine, meaningful relationships with others. It could be maintaining a close friendship with just one or two people over the years and meeting occasionally from time to time. We are speaking of friendships which add value to your life and improve your mental health. No man is an island and as such, we require meaningful relationships with others to avoid loneliness, although solitude has its benefits.

We generally associate having a healthy social life with youth. Conversely, we associate a lonely existence with old age.

7. Sense of Style and Fashion

Do you have a sense of style and fashion? This does not refer to wearing a strapless bosom-exposing top and a tight-fitting mini-skirt of a teenager when you are in your seventies, in a bid to look young and to keep up with the latest fashion trends.

A sense of style and fashion rather refers to dressing appropriately to suit the occasion and striving to look classy. This could be in terms of colour coordination or colour blocking, wearing the right accessories, and generally having a neat and impressive appearance.

With reference to dressing appropriately, you wouldn’t want to wear a three-piece suit to the beach. Neither would you want to wear a t-shirt, a pair of tattered jeans and flip-flops to a formal dinner.

We see having a sense of style and fashion as a sign of youth. Conversely, we see someone who does not care about his or her own appearance as old.

So, after pondering these questions, how old are you?

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