Who is that person in the mirror? While aging is defined as the accumulation of change over a period of time, I find myself struggling to understand where the time and more importantly where my youth has gone. Like the turning of a page, in an instant my reflection reminds me that I am much older than my mind is letting me know which, is only further confirmed when I put my glasses on and notice that there is more hair on my ears and in my nose than on the top of my head – and I smile!

You see, I have never had a problem with aging but without question I forget on a regular basis that I am not a young man anymore and as time goes on I am reminded of my maturing state in everyday circumstance.

Where are my Reading Glasses

The need for reading glasses doesn’t bother me but the continuous household hunting expedition trying to locate them can be a bit annoying. Okay, do I have a memory problem too or perhaps this is divine intervention to save the shock from my reflection – no, it’s my eyes. I regularly misread pricing labels, and worse find it impossible to read any label in our medicine cabinet and really worse, my daughter gets antsy when the label clearly identifies that the purchased contents are not vegan.  But let’s be honest, these are minor inconveniences and 20/20 vision or not, some fine prints just can’t be read!

Opening Jars and Packaging

And what is with screw off lids and packaging today? At a minimum they demand the permanent installation of wire cutters in the utensil drawer, and the dragon lady and I tag-teaming in an effort to open a jar – I know I’m in for a bad day when she wins out and gets it!

Beating my kids in Basketball?

The one thing that really gets my goat is knowing I will get whipped on the basketball court by my university kids – I am in constant denial here and have to proudly remind myself of the day when I could hold my own and compete in almost any sport with anyone – even my classic SHER-WOOD PMP 5030 hockey stick has seen better days.

My New Normal

Lastly, I have noticed a new normal and how the world has somehow lost it’s modesty. By the way, according to Forbes Media it was Mohamed Aly El-Erian, Chief Economic Advisor for Allianz and correspondent on CNBC News who first used the phrase when describing the slow economic recovery from the financial crisis.  My new normal is how clothing and exercise wear have changed and leave nothing to the imagination not to mention the constant barrage of advertisements about sexual enhancers and personal care products. Somehow it just makes me cringe and to be frank, some people shouldn’t wear tights – and now I sound old.

But you know, I am one aging happy fellow and am grateful for my many blessings. That reflection in the mirror, well, the dragon lady says is striking, and while I still feel like I need to grow up, my intellect, patience and perception continue to be at all time highs as wisdom can only be acquired through time – ah the benefits just keep on coming!