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I posted the following in my journal and thought I'd share it here as well. It serves as a little update on my life currently. I'm definitely enjoying life right now. I'm married to my best friend and she brings me great happiness every day.
So yesterday I turned 39. One year remains before I cross that barrier of 40 often considered to be the threshold of middle age. It's important to keep young in one's mental outlook and, as much as possible, in one's physicality also. Bodies tend to rust out rather than wear out in my opinion. So many people I know seem to have just hung it up upon entering their thirties. I find that to be sad.
Exercise to a great extent holds back the clock. On the other hand, being sedentary at this age has even more drastically negative effects than when one is younger. I absolutely refuse to give in to middle-age "spread". One's mood, outlook, mobility and confidence are closely linked to fitness.
I patently abhor the misguided notion that humans must cut their hair shorter as they age. In my view, the quickest way to show your age is to get a "mom" haircut or if you're a man, cave to some corporate ideal of what professional men are supposed to look like.
As far as the mental aspects go, I believe that it's natural to have more "mature" positions on things as we get older but I don't think we need to fundamentally change who we are. I have the same passions and viewpoints on many issues that I had when I was much younger. In fact, my political views have become more radicalized in the last few years. My musical tastes have only gotten more eclectic and extreme. My religious path began taking a major divergence in my early 30s and I'm still finding my way in that regard.
So here's to keeping on fighting "the man" no matter what one's age is!
Happy birthday and nice piece your wrote there.
I to become more extreme as I age, I use to conform myself to what was "normal" and now I'm getting older I'm doing what I like and who I am. It took me a while to find my true self but life got a lot better once I started doing my own things.
I also hate the mom cut's you refer to, it's such a shame a lot of the older woman cut their hair.
Thanks Vincent. That's great to hear you're on a path of true discovery!
Hi Jason,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. Well I'm just a little down the road by 8 years but I've never found middle age yet. I'm sure it's some sort of rest haven for some and perhaps a box some people like to be labeled of a box it fit it. I don't agree with labels and put me in a box I'll jump out again lol! I'm still keep in youthful mind that's for sure. I'm sure alot of people already have the cocoa and slippers ready.
As for hair well mine if still long and now I've got a beard to boot so I'm going against some sort of grain...oh I just see my mothers tutting...not that I care what she thinks on that score.
At the end of the day it's just a number.
Cheers,
John.B
Great points John! You're right - age should be just a number. Kudos for not allowing yourself to be put in any boxes!
Happy Belated Birthday! I'm up on you by 5 years and echoing John B's comments I do my own thing and believe middle age is a state of mind for some. I have yet to get the urge to buy a ridiculous sports car or dye my hair and goatee. LOL
It's all about attitude and aside from making jokes about "middle age" I'll leave it to someone else to have a crisis.
As for fighting the man, absolutely! and much more fun than being a slave to our war mongering corporate culture.
Cheers
Kevin
Thanks Kevin!
As for fighting the man, absolutely! and much more fun than being a slave to our war mongering corporate culture.
Amen brother! I couldn't agree more.
Hi Jason,
First of all, Happy (belated) birthday to you, and I am delighted that life has been so good for you these days, and that everyting is going so well with you and Amanda.
This is an excellent post, and your words ring so true. Also, regarding one's hair, everyone is entitled to long hair, no matter how many years are on the clock. At the ripe old age of 57, I am also trying to stay active, and have no plans to cut my hair either!
Take care,
David
Thanks a lot David. You're an excellent example of someone who goes to the beat of his own drum. Kudos for growing and keeping your long hair and for keeping very active as well!
Kudos Jason
Thanks!
So Happy Birthday Jason just a day late!LOL.I couldn't agree more with your statement about getting older.As I close in on the big five zero within the next two years I can't see that milestone meaning much at all for me.I will not celebrate it because it means nothing to me.I never saw the big deal celebrating the passage of time as New Years is another holiday I care less about too.All I know is I'll just keep on plugging along with my longhair and doing my own thing.Fortunately I work out often and I feel that benefited me over the years keeping me from getting ill and staying slim.I can't imagine not doing something physical as my body would probably go into withdrawl!Anyway great out look on life and remember to keep the faith my friend.Cheers
Mark
Thank you Mark!
I've long admired your dedication to keeping fit and certainly your dedication has paid off. I agree that once you get in a good routine of working out, it comes naturally and you really miss it if for some reason you miss a workout. I've noticed not only considerable weight loss (32 pounds) and vastly improved fitness but also that my general health is much better as well.
My pleasure Jason as I always value your input to this great board.You have made your life very available to the membership here which is why mlhh is more of a family rather than a bunch of people posting to a message board never to be heard from again.Also good for you on the weight loss!I find that being active really pays dividends in ones overall health.My job is sometimes physical and working out keeps me in shape to deal with that.However I do it for myself more than anything.I couldn't imagine going the couch potato route.lol.Enjoy your 39th year my good friend:)
Mark
Two things I base Lifes journey on :
Age is a mindset
Labels are for soup
Happy Birthday !
Thank you and I definitely agree!
Hey Jason and all of you,
I've been lurking here for a few years - i'm a gal tough, so I hesitated posting so far (-:
First of I always say I'm not growing my hair. Thank God, it grows by itself - I just don't cut it. Gotta let nature have its way, its best for both of us ;-)
Secondly - I'm from Europe, so when I reached 18 and became an adult in all legal terms, after that I never had any "birthdays", I usually just thank my mother for giving birth and having patience (for me, my birthday is mothers' day 'cause that's the day she became a mother).
Basically, after 18 for me everyone is a responsible man. Or should be. Hopefully will be.
We're always going to be somewhat children to our parents, friends to our chosen family, be a role model to live by for those who search, and parents - but never "middle-aged", "corporate", "career man/woman", etc. (:
Happy belated Birthday, and thank you for this wonderful forum :)
Cheers,
Eva
Hi Eva, welcome to the board after years of lurkdom:)It was great reading your perspective on aging being you are quite young at this time.That's interesting how you feel about celebrating birthdays already.Most young people seem to always like a party.You sound very mature for your age as you already seem to have such wisdom.Glad you stopped in to post and don't hesitate to visit again:)Your thoughts are very much appreciated.Cheers
Mark
Hello Mark,
thank you very much for the welcoming :-)
Having (and living) with a huge family (relatives, cousins, grandmas and all) helps gaining wisdom faster ;-)
Most of my family used to/is longhair, so we pretty much go out to blues/hard rock concerts to celebrate birthdays. . .
Cheers,
Eva
Hi Eva,
Thank you and a warm welcome to our forum!
I enjoyed reading of your experience and thoughts. I'm very much in agreement.
Youth is a state of mind. Happy (belated) birthday, and thanks for the gift of your poignant thoughts!
--Val
Thanks Val!
Happy birthday =)
And I do agree with what you said, it was very nice to read =) Hope all's going well ^^
João David
Hi João,
Thanks for your thoughts and looking forward to your next update!
I enjoyed reading your post, Jason.
Wishing you a most wonderful and happy 39th birthday!
- Oren
Thank you Oren!
Hey Jason - I turned 49 this past October and I'm headed for the 50 next year. When I wake up each morning I usually feel like I'm in my early 20's.
I love life!
By the way - your hair still looks awesome and I hope you're enjoying the married life!
Take care and be forever young Jason!
John in Mission, KS
Hey John,
Great thoughts and I totally agree.
Thanks!
It is wonderful that you have found your soulmate, Jason. Being happily married will keep you young and healthy longer.
I am now 57.
That is definitely true. I still exercise very strenuously, probably more intensely that recommended for my age group. It hasn't killed me yet.
I agree entirely. My hair and beard are the longest they have ever been. It is time to take back power from the corporations which control our lives from cradle to grave. What if everyone, or at least most of us, made an anarchist move against the corporations by refusing to cut our hair or shave off our beards? They would have to hire longhairs (perish the thought) or go belly up. This would bring them to their knees. I would love to see that happen in my lifetime.
So here's to keeping on fighting "the man" no matter what one's age is!
I am politically left for sure. I want to see change.
BTW, I almost forgot, Happy Birthday Jason. Keep the faith, keep it long.
Scott
Hi Scott,
You have been a great inspiration for both your hair and your fitness. It's fantastic that you have kept such a high degree of fitness. I firmly believe the key is to do intense exercise, not just leisurely strolls. It promotes dynamic changes both in lowering body fat and in improving fitness.
That would be awesome if we could organize something like you suggest. Alas, there are too few committed longhairs at this point to pull it off. Hopefully, though, society is moving in the direction of tolerance and we can envision a day when hair length will no longer be an issue.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Jason
Hi Jason,
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts from your journal -- and excellent thoughts they are!!
First: happy belated birthday (and may you have many MANY more)!!!
2nd comment: I agree with your sentiments 100%. Keeping young in your mind as well as your body are so important. Even though I realize that I myself am not a good example of staying very physically fit as I've aged, this doesn't mean I don't make efforts, nor value physical fitness... I've just found it harder for me to get back into it once I let my former exercise program slide. In fact, if anything is worth mentioning as life-long advise well worth listening to (even though I have NOT yet succeeded at doing well at it myself), it would be to keep oneself as physically healthy and strong and agile as possible.
3rd comment: as far as mental aspects and attitudes go, an interesting thing happens as we continue to go forward into our advanced ages of life... Some things "mellow" in our minds; while other issues become firmer and clearer and even more important to us. Personal growth and progress continue, regardless of whatever number of years we reach on planet Earth. Both retrospection and introspection are invaluable in one's mental / emotion and spiritual progress, as well as how we just grow as a person and deal with personal challenges...
In other words, age is just a number.
(Although I confess to being SHOCKED sometimes whenever I rattle off my own number - LOL!!)
Thanks for posting this great thread, Jason!
Long Lox 4ever,
Ken
Great thoughts Ken! I totally agree about finding what is most important to us as we get older. That doesn't mean being any less passionate about what we care about for sure.
Thank you!
Jason!
I've been looking for you - I'm a member of the long hair community and noticed that you were banned.
I've run afoul also and now can't do shit till my infraction is over on the 31st of Dec (three months) and wondered if you have any advice for dealing with that group.
Patrick
Not much I can advise you about. Obviously, it's a very high control group under suffocating moderation. It has an extremely biased moderation team that do personal favors for those whom they support and denigrate those whom they don't. They practice nepotism and favoritism. Overall, I'm glad to be out of it.