After a long working career, birthdays seem different now

I need help. I’m having a melt down! It’s almost my birthday, the big 62, yikes! At 40, I couldn’t even say the word. I called it the “F” word, fff, fff, forty. After the terror of turning 40, my 50th birthday was a breeze. I guess I was getting used to being a mature, responsible person. Now I’m going to be 62 next week and I am sharing this information; not just sharing, but telling the whole world.  No one who knows me well would believe that I am willingly telling my age. When I examine how much my life has changed in the past three months I just can’t believe it myself.

Coworkers Were in Their 20’s and I Feared Growing Older

I have a new outlook on age since I have stopped working. I feared growing older when I was working. No one except my boss really knew my exact age. Most of my coworkers were in their 20’s. I was older than their parents. I worried about losing my edge. I always felt I was being judged by my younger coworkers on my lack of being able to talk, type, answer phones and deal with patients all at the same time.  I preferred doing one thing at a time and doing it right. Having outstanding people skills and being the office goodwill ambassador was far more important to me than how fast I could type an email.  I can multi-task quite proficiently, but I regularly worried about being perceived as “old school.”
 
Transitioning from full-time employment to staying at home has empowered me. I no longer fear growing older; I embrace it. I don’t feel the need to hide my age. I shout it out for the entire world to hear. I love working at my own pace. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone except myself. And by the way, I posted my first tweet today!

Categories: Older Worker, Career Management & Transition, Age in the Workplace, On the Job