Changing the Perspective: Aging

One year older; one year wiser. Age is just a number. "I'm getting too old for this..."

These are just a few of the handful of sayings you have likely thought, said or heard when your birthday comes and passes. Maybe you've believed them and maybe you haven't. One thing is certain, when "our day" comes around each year, we all look at it differently. The common thread is that view changes from childhood to adulthood.

I can still remember how my mom for years would storm into my room to sing the same birthday song. She was the best at making your birthday feel special.

Let's face it. While Toys-R-Us coined, "I don't wanna grow up. I'm a Toys "R" Us kid," we weren't lucky enough to follow it. We grow up, and gain responsibilities. We become adults.

It can be terrifying to think about. Just the thought of "adulting" and what comes with it. We miss the days of being carefree with no worries and just enjoying what's around us. Now we're saddled with jobs and bills, while dealing with various aches and pains.

Taking a minute to think about can be depressing. Trust me, I know this. I promise you that by the end of this blog you'll laugh (hopefully) and take a new or different look at our special day.

I'm sure everyone has different methods and ways to look at the bright side of things. Aging is one that we don't actively think about, only to be reminded of by new aches or the appearance of gray hairs when we look in the mirror. But, we have many methods to hide these reminders from pain killers to hair dyes. It's a constant battle to avoid reminders and find ways to hide it happening.

Something I've always done for different challenges is look for analogies or use different perspectives to put a positive spin on things. I'm not always a, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade," kind of person. If you ask those around me I'm more of a pessimist.

However, on the things I cannot change - or have no control over - I try to find the silver lining. I try to find a way to way to give me a brief reprieve, if anything.

Recently, the idea of video games has brought a unique spin on the concept of aging. If you know me, you know video games have been a big part of my life since childhood. From the days of Duck Hunt, to years of pouring time into World of Warcraft, video games have been there.

To say it's been a roller coaster for a relationship would be an understatement. But, this post isn't about those experiences. Rather it's how I've taken those adventures and used them to change my perspective on aging.

As Ferris Bueller said, "Life moves by pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it." Even though it comes from a movie, there is no truer statement. While it does stink getting old, if we always look at things negatively it's just going to continue past us.

Without further delay let me try to explain my take on how getting older is similar to leveling up in a video game.

Aging

This one is easy to explain as we're all in the process of doing it.

We enter the world as inexperienced people, relying on others to teach us basic survival tactics: communication, motor skills, consumption, etc. These people show us how to walk and act in everyday life.

Gradually, we take what they taught us and form ourselves. That's what makes each and every person unique. Skills are slowly mastered and talents are discovered and we begin our own journey through life. There's a big world out there and it's ours to take it. This is where the grind truly begins.

Through years in school, or various trades, we master these abilities and turn them into careers. Eventually we find someone and begin a new chapter together, where it's our turn to teach the ones who came after us. It's our job to make sure they're set on the proper path and protect them as they learn. We watch as they learn and become experienced and go out on their own.

As the years pass on, the grind slowly begins to take its toll. It could be the added years of responsibilities, such as bills and taxes. Or just the rigors of the daily grind reaching its peak as we near retirement. We're not as fast, or sharp, as we used to be. Pains flare up and we begin to settle in for the final stretch.

Remember those kids, your kids, that were helped? Now, they're coming around showing you their own charges. Seeing this new life brings a renewed sense of vigor and an added excitement to the rather slower pace of life you've entered.

In a way, you feed off their energy.

Video Games

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Whenever you fire up a video game for the first time, you're a newbie - or rather just new to the game. You have next to know idea how to play the game, and are searching for guides or others to teach you what is going on.

Gradually, you learn the tips and tricks to get better at the game. You find the best way to handle the challenges presented. What you learn is that people undertake them in different methods, and some are better at it than you. Let's face it, that's life.

But, you soldier on. You find your niche and continue to enjoy the campaign and story. However, you hit that lull and realize you've grown tired of the grind and miss the days of just enjoying firing the game up.

Then you find someone new to the game. Someone who has no clue on what the best option, or what to do. You watch them learn and get better, and in a way feed off their excitement. It almost reignites the joy of that game in you even if temporary.

Nostalgia is one heck of a drug in both areas.

From the beginning in both life and video games, to learning and eventually mastering a craft these two can share parallels to put a positive spin on something that can be viewed passively, only to remind us when we're not expecting it.

With life the burden is increased with the responsibilities placed upon us, while in video games the same is true. We end up "carrying" more weight in life in the form of cars, homes and even other lives. Video games give us various items to complete various tasks and challenges the game puts in front of us.

While video games and again are completely different, there are many broad, and specific, examples to tie them together. You're able to pull examples from both to help out in the other. It's a two-way street in that respect.

You simply cannot compare them in everything. They simply give a respite to something that is literally out of ones' control. I'm not here to sway you on the idea that this can be used for you. Rather, I'm showing you a method I've used that hopefully will spur your own mind to find a creative way to undertake a difficult task, not just the thoughts of aging.

Because let's face it. Age may be a number, but it's there to show your experience to others.

*This artwork was done OzumaRyu (@OzumaRyu on Twitter), commissioned by my girlfriend. She had it done of my World of Warcraft character.