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Danish philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard, once said about living:

Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.

Funny how we humans don’t think like that. Let’s face it, ageing is a bad thing to us. From anti-wrinkle cream to Botox to a hundred other brands celebrating Youth, ageing is second only perhaps, to Death itself. How did this perception come about?

Ageism, like Death, is a fact of Life none of us can escape. Yet, as young, hot-blooded hungry cubs too preoccupied with ourselves, we somehow have conveniently disregard the fact that ageism will one day hit us too. When was the last time you spoke to someone above the age of sixty? My colleague asked the office today. Well, I’ve just spoke to my 70-something-year-old Nanny a couple of days back. Then again, it required the loss of my father for that call to have occurred. Like Death itself, I suppose I assume the expiry dates have been extended indefinitely.

How bloody arrogant. I pray you don’t require the same loss to understand the importance of appreciating the seniors in your life.

Council for Third Age celebrates active ageing and active seniors and seek to identify 5 seniors for its upcoming Active Agers Awards 2009. Do you know of a 70-year-old man who still sells chicken rice at Newton (its possible – my grandmother was the same lady behind the famous Katong Fried Oysters store at Bedok Interchange and she retired only at 75)? Or perhaps, your 63-year-old aunt who tags along with you to Zouk on Mambo Nights? Or maybe its about time your 75-year-old uncle living next door gets recognition for having more followers on Twitter than you? Nominate them now. Why? Because Life shouldn’t just be all about you.