The Stage of Age

Whilst they say age is merely a number, it is one that carries a significant amount of weight. When your age falls within the single digit range, what you’re entitled to is the right to make mistakes, to do things on a whim (because you don’t know better!), to be the most oblivious human around. Age is your ammunition against judgement.

When your age is punctuated by a “1”, your concept of what is good and bad, right and wrong, and of your dreams, once hazy – start to take shape. Your sole measure of worth is what ends up on your report card, and your worries don’t extend beyond that of getting to class on time, getting your assignments done, and receiving allowance for food.

When “2” takes over as the first digit of your age, the weight of your dreams and paths start to meet gravity. You decide on the matter of study in school, and leave it by sailing into the endless sea of possibilities to try to earn your keep. You dream, wake up from a bad dream, dream, end up in a good one – do this for what feels like a long ten years.

When “3” takes over, you think about fulfillment, finding greater meaning in what you are doing. Does what you do change anything, improve anything, make a difference? Is starting a family thirty’s greatest goal? Gravity pulls you closer to the ground.

Let’s say ageing is like an orbit to outer space. You begin your voyage here — as a resident, go on a ride as an explorer, float freely as an observer, and get reeled back in to fulfill your responsibilities as a resident. If this cycle has no linearity — if we defy gravity at times, and freefall at others — wouldn’t the concept of ageing be less predictable, and more exciting?

TEXT AND IMAGES BY ANATOMY OF THINGS
ALSO FEATURED IN ABSTRACTS – ISSUE ONE: IMPERMANENCE