When I was a teenager, I looked older than I was, I never got asked for ID.
When I was in my early 20’s I looked my age.
When I was in my late 20’s I looked young for my age and always got asked for ID.
I am now in my mid 30’s and I supposedly still look young for my age.
Great genetics – yeah! I am going to own this!
However, what I’ve not been able to accept is the amount of judging we as society place on ‘the appearance of age’.
You’re too young to be in that position. How could you possibly have all of that experience at your age. Oh, he is very young to be that senior, he must know someone. You don’t meet the picture I formed in my head when we spoke on the phone. You look young. Can you afford that.
The list of comments goes on and on … and on.
I am certain if I turned around and said, well, you look like a dinosaur, time for retirement buddy, I’d no doubt be criticised for poor attitude. Pot. Kettle. Black.
Someone’s appearance, however youthful or other, does not have any direct correlation with their experience, their intelligence, their ability, capabilities or who they are as a person.
I’m lucky enough that I’ve worked hard to be extremely comfortable in my own skin. Not everyone is.
So next time you go to judge someone based on ‘appearance of age’ ask yourself if you’re going to contribute to the ongoing, naive cultural conditioning of the society we live in, or if you’re going to help pave the way to shatter that ceiling and step in to 2021!
Be the change you want to see and help create an easier path for our future generations. They’ve got more difficult, and meaningful challenges to work on (you know, like re-building our world), rather than being judged for appearance of age.
#IamStephE
IamStephE 