Revenge best served cold

I cannot pinpoint exactly when I am being age-judged. 

But once you start noticing, you cannot un-notice.   It is like once you start counting red cars on the road, all you can see are red cars. If you do not believe me, try counting them the next time while you are out.

Age-judging came in recently from an estate agent.  The context or the background of the conversation is not significant. The important point is age was the first and foremost reason she quoted for me not to do something.  Don't do anything now, just stay put, she said.  You are old and you don't want to sell the property to get a bigger one.  Too old for extra financial burden.  Everything she said after the "old" word, became blurred.  I could not hear a thing.  The dirty word kept ringing in my ears.  No wonder estate agents are the second most hated behind second-hand car salesman.

And the financial advisor.  You must play it safe because you are getting old.  Given the current economic situation, isn't it true for all investors to play it safe?   Every investment plan he ever suggested is no-brainer sure-win plan until it is not.  I detest the way he justified it by playing the age card.  I hate it beyond words because there is no argument against the passage of time, and he knows it.  What he said is so true and so wrong at the same time.

It hurts the most when it comes from your mum.  You are no longer young, don't go crazy in the gym.  Take it easy. Don't push yourself too hard, or else, you will hurt yourself.  I cannot remember Mum saying take it easy when I was doing my examinations at school.  What has changed?  Age does not and should not stop one from doing his best.   When does age become an excuse to be mediocre?

On all three occasions, I became dumbfounded (well, I should not be when it happened the third time).  I know they do it for my good, for my protection by giving out the best advice they can think of.  However, it does not lessen the annoyance it creates.  It is exactly the candid, frank, straightforward truth which I cannot handle.  Yes, I am getting old; we are all getting old.  Yes, I cannot stop it; no one can.  Yes, I cannot reverse it no matter how much exercise I do and how long I spend in the gym; I can only delay it as much as I can.  Yes, it is as simple as daylight but blunt like a hammer that hits you square on your face and hurts like hell.

On all three occasions, I wanted to scream at them.

On all three occasions, I did not.

Revenge is a dish best served cold. 

I am walking away from the conversation quietly and rebel quietly.  Disappear from social media.  Devote to my work.  Keep my circle small as an eagle cannot fly amongst turkeys.  I am a force to be reckoned with.  I am going to show them what I am made of.  I am not going to be written off and no one dares to rub that "age" card to my face again.  I am not over the hill yet.  I am just coming up to the peak of the hill.  Think Colonel Sanders[i] people!

Just watch me.

[i] Colonel Sanders founded KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) at 62 and became a billionaire at 88.  His recipe was rejected 1009 times before it was accepted by a restauranteur in Salt Lake City, Utah.

#adayinthejungle #agejudging #rebelquietly #justwatchme