How old do you feel?

Posted By on August 27, 2010

Working in the health profession puts me in touch with a huge array of people whose ages are by necessity always prominently displayed on the screen, right after their names. And not uncommonly I meet people whose appearance is discordant with their chronological age. Whenever that discord is great I usually ask, “How old do you feel?” With a follow up, “Yes, but how old do you actually feel?” In my series of questions and collected answers over the last few years I can conclude with much (unscientific) certainty that 100% of people that look younger feel younger deep inside. And sometimes embarrassingly so …

A 94 year old lady came to see me with her 93 year old sister. Despite their multitude of wisdom lines and age-induced shortened stature they just seemed, well felt really, young. So I posed the question.

“This may seem like a strange question but how old do you feel?”

“I’m 94, my dear.”

“Yes … but you don’t seem 94.  How old do you feel?”

She blushes. Turns to her sister and giggles. Cheeks now burning crimson she replies, “Well, it’s a bit embarrassing really. I know I’m 94 because my joints ache and I can’t do the things I used to do but, to be honest, I’ve never turned a day older than 23.” Giggle.

How old do you feel?  (Like a pup?)

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