Although I turned seventy-six on 8 June, I am also sixty-six, fifty-six, forty-six, thirty-six, twenty-six, sixteen, and yes six. I used tens instead of ones. The post would have been too long had I used ones. Seventy-six, seventy-five, seventy-four, seventy-three, seventy-two, seventy-one, and seventy.  You get the idea.

In the story “Eleven”, Sandra Cisneros explains how a girl named Rachel turns eleven years old, yet she does not feel like she is eleven. Later on, she has a disagreement with her teacher about an ugly sweater and she wishes she was older so she could defend herself.

Rachel goes on to say that what people do not understand about birthdays and what they never tell you is that when you’re seventy-six you’re also all of the ages all the way down to one. And when you wake up on your seventy sixth birthday you expect to feel seventy-six, but you don’t.

You open your eyes and everything’s just like yesterday, only it’s today. And you don’t feel seventy-six at all. You feel like you’re seventy-five. And you are –underneath the year that makes you seventy-six. There are many times that you might do or say things that others might think are stupid or immature for your actual age, but not to worry. You are acting like one of your younger ages.

The phrase “once a man, twice a child” is a saying that is often used to express the idea that people are never too old to learn new things or to change their way. It suggests that even when we are grown up and have achieved a certain level of maturity, we still have much to learn and can still grow and change.

The idea is always something new to discover and learn, and we should approach life with a sense of curiosity and openness.  I am a member of the “Lifetime Learner Club.” I strive to learn something new each day, even if it learning what not to do.