Despite the fearlessness and recklessness we equate with our youth, I can say aging is something that stays in the back of a young person’s mind. It’s almost like an intrusive thought, coming around to remind you that time is passing even though you’re scrambling to create enough memories to make it stand still. With that, here are my top five biggest fears about growing “old”.
Preparing for the death of my parents.
Even being a 22 year old, today, I recognize my parents are growing older. They have these vibrant spirits and go-getter mentalities that keep them feeling young, however I still see it in the little things: the more frequent doctor’s visits, the dieting, the aches and pains they feel when getting out of bed in the morning. Usually I’m so self-absorbed with my own progress in life, that I forget they’re still in the midst of theirs. As poetic as it is to see life come full-circle, it’s much easier to live through the stages of life than watch your parents go through it before you.
Regretting my decisions in earlier stages of my life.
Did I marry the right person, or did I marry for convenience? Did I want to have kids? Did I like the career path I chose for myself as a measly college freshman? These are some of the questions I’ll have in the future, because they’re the elements of my youth that are still unanswered to this day. To the older people reading this, I’m sure you’re saying “she’s a baby” or “you have your whole life ahead of you to figure it out,” but the problem with my generation is that we are spoiled with immediacy. Anything we want is a couple of finger taps away. So, it’s only natural for us to crave to know how this life plays out for us.
Having one of my older siblings go before me.
The thing about being the youngest is you always believe there’s order to everything. My two older brothers and I still sit in our “designated seats” at the family dinner table, in the car, and on our living room couch. There’s an order we devised since we were toddlers, and it’s ingrained in our brains. The thought that life can take us, out of that very order, scares me. Being the youngest doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll be the last to go, and their being older doesn’t mean they’ll be the first.
Not being comfortable financially.
The fear of knowing “retirement” is more of a luxury than a necessity nowadays is a scary thought. Especially being at an age where I have the flexibility and freedom to discover what I want to do with my life, I feel as though I should have it all figured out so I can spend my years chasing after the dream of a comfortable and safe retirement.
Feeling unaccomplished.
Those who know me understand I am the definition of a “perfectionist” and a “hustler,” but what motivates those traits? Feeling unimpressed and unaccomplished with what you already have, so you search for more. At my age, I’m able to use this feeling to motivate me because I have the time, energy, and resources to do so. I believe once you reach a certain age the hustle exhausts you, burns you out, and the feeling of not doing or being enough leads to bitter unhappiness later in life. And what I want, more than any sense of accomplishment, is to feel content before I go.
Article Written by Anesa Feratovic
