So someone walks up and says, “Hey, you look young!”
And suddenly, you’re grinning like your crush just replied to your Insta story.
Now, let’s flip that.
Someone squints and goes, “Whoa, you’ve aged!”
And boom—existential dread hits harder than your Monday morning alarm.
But why though? What is this emotional rollercoaster based on? Spoiler alert: it’s got less to do with your actual face and more to do with the image you’ve built inside your own head.
You think you look a certain way. You believe you behave a certain way. You imagine yourself as this majestic blend of wit, wisdom, charm, and some conveniently filtered Instagram selfies.
And then—bam—society has the audacity to have its own version of you. Ugh.
Now here’s the kicker: even you try to match their version of you.
You dye your greys. You cover up those laugh lines (ironically, proof you’ve laughed). You contour your face until it resembles your 2012 passport photo. But for what?
Let’s be real: as long as you’re not harming anyone, and you’re at peace with your inner version of yourself, that should be enough. If you look in the mirror and think, “Yeah, I like this weirdo,” then what more do you need?
And yet… we still fall for the trap.
Now, let’s crank it up a notch. Imagine this image trap doesn’t just stop at hair dye or anti-aging cream. Imagine it stretches to everything—your car, your phone, your wristwatch collection that no one asked for, not even you.
Owning eight watches won’t stretch your day by even a minute. Having ten pairs of shoes won’t give you the stamina to run past your excuses. And parking three cars in your garage won’t magically clear your calendar for more family holidays.
Here’s a terrible truth for capitalism: if everyone just felt content with what they already had, the economy would be in ruins. The stock market would look like a haunted house.
And yet, there’s something gloriously liberating about just being.
Just sitting there. Without an agenda. Without trying to level up.
Without needing another pair of sneakers or another person’s approval.
I know, I know—easier said than done. Even I’m typing this while secretly Googling whether black hair dye is less damaging than brown. But hey, awareness is the first step, right?
My man Blaise Pascal once said (yes, I name-drop philosophers now):
“All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”
And Naval Ravikant, the startup whisperer-turned-soul guru, nailed it with this gem:
“Not wanting something is as good as already having it.”
I mean, whoa. That’s a brain-punch of truth.
So the next time someone says “You look old,” just smile. That means you’ve lived.
And if they say “You look young,” say “Thanks,” but remember—it’s not a compliment if you need it to feel good.
Live how you want. Age as you must. And always remember:
Hair dye fades. Image fades. But self-acceptance? Now that’s timeless.
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