FearBusters: Fear of Old Age

See Previous parts: FearBusters: Conquering our Fears, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Part 5: Fear of Old Age

On the verge of approaching forty, I have on occasion caught myself talking to other people and calling myself old. I do this more out of jest than anything else because, quite frankly, I am much happier now than I have ever been. With age has come a sense of understanding and seeing people and the world for what it really is, and this understanding brings with it a sense of peace, calm and maturity that I lacked when I was younger.

So why do I refer to myself as ‘old’ from time to time? I have come to the conclusion that it is because we live in a very youth loving, and to a certain extent, a youth worshipping culture. So referencing myself at almost 40 as ‘old’ is not so out of the ordinary. However, it is far from factual. The great achievements of the greatest people throughout history have come after they reached the age of 40. It is the age that Allah chose for the prophet to reveal His message. Just examine the Prophet Muhammad’s life before 40 and after 40 and you can see quite clearly that the best can definitely be yet to come for us after 40.

I believe that our fear of old age really stems from a few different fears: fear of being poor at an old age, fear of loss of physical and/or mental capabilities, fear of a loss of freedom and independence, and a fear of poor health.

Principle to Overcome this Fear: Be thankful for having reached an age of wisdom and understanding

The person that I know who best exemplifies this quality of overcoming this fear of old age is my mother. I have seen this incredible woman become a sort of super hero in her extended ages mashallah. Not only is she accepting of her age, but it seems to me that she is getting the most out of her life now more than ever before. Her days are spent attending classes, whether online or in-person, taking care of some of her 17 grandchildren, still cooking for her husband (who rarely eats anything besides his wife’s cooking) and other family members, attending social gatherings and volunteering for great causes.

This incredible woman amazes me! Rather than succumbing to the fear of old age that debilitates so many, through gratitude and activism, she chooses to make these years the best of her life.

Up Next – Part 6: Fear of Change