Forever 21: Dealing with America’s Fear of Aging and Death Susan Wright
Liberty University
PSYC 210
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“There’s no way I’d want to be 10 anymore. I have so much more freedom now. I’m making money. I can do whatever I want.” But what if you asked him what it would be like to be 40? “It would be awful. I’d be stuck in the rut of a job. I’d be stuck with a wife and kids.” And so on. But the end of Dr. Tornstam’s analogy is our concept of old age. For some reason our culture fears old age. In general we fear becoming elderly. Our concept of old age is associated with a lack of contentment with life.
Why is this? Why do we despise grey hair and wrinkles? Why do we fear those “golden years”? Why do we scramble to embrace the concept of youth? Why are we so quick to be associated with that insecurity and inexperience and foolishness of youth? How insecure, inexperienced and foolish of us! What do we think we will lose with old age? Is it the excitement of a new experience, or the opportunity of new tests and challenges? Is it the virility of sexual experiences? [ARSHEEYA MASHAW, MD | PHYSICIAN | NOVEMBER 25, 2012]
What is the basis of this thinking and what can be done to see this as part of life’s