What Was The Moment When You Realized You Were Old? (Here’s Mine)

Everyone deals with aging differently.  Some people deny it.  Some people embrace it.  Some people have no idea they're even getting old at all.  It's when you realize it, that's shocking.

It's that moment when you suddenly have to come to the realization that you're not the spring chicken you once were that can really knock you back a couple steps if you're not ready for it.

Do you remember that moment?  Maybe you just haven't had it yet.

Mine came just the other day.  I was at my annual physical at the doctor's office.  Every year they take your weight, your height, your temperature, and your blood pressure.  Normally the nurse will say the numbers to you as she reads them and you just kind of nod.

This was the moment that I realized I was getting old.

When the nurse said what my blood pressure was, I had to ask her to repeat it again.  She repeated, "122 over 78."  They say that perfect blood pressure is normally 120 over 80.  Now I've been working really hard lately to get myself in better shape.  I've been going to the gym and eating better.  So to hear that my blood pressure was nearly perfect was a great sign!  But I still would have never responded the other day when I was young.  After she repeated it, I said, "YESSSSSSSSS."

Like...out loud.

Have you ever done something like that?  Have you ever gotten excited about your blood pressure enough that you said, "Yessss!" out loud?  It wasn't something I said in my head.  I literally said, "Yessss!!"  Like I just passed another level in a video game.  The nurse was trying to be nice, but I could see it in her face that she felt bad that I was so excited at my blood pressure.

I nodded my head when I saw her face.  I am old.  And that was my moment of realization.  It's ok.  I plan to take it on gracefully.  I still feel young...and evidently, my blood pressure is great.  I'm just hoping I don't get into any long conversations about "my pillbox" any time soon.