As much as I read and write about positive aging, I had an experience recently that reminded me that I am still struggling with aging. Someone gave me a gift certificate to get a facial which I love. During the process, I asked her how my skin looked and she responded by saying it looked pretty good. Then I pointed out that I wish there were not so many little lines on my upper lift. She said, “Did you used to smoke?” And I said, “Smoke? I have NEVER smoked anything in my whole life.” She indicated that is one of the consequences of smoking.
Then I had major flashbacks.
I have always loved to whistle. Even though I am not good at it, I find myself whistling to the music or just whistling my own music. Who knows where I picked up this habit, but I have been whistling for a long time. When I was probably less than 10, I remember my grandfather telling me that if I was going to continue to whistle, I had to go outside. I could not whistle in the house.
Fast forward to college. My roommate and I worked in the cafeteria all four years and always working the breakfast shift. We would get up at 5:30 to be there at 6:00 and chose this shift because it would not interfere with classes or studying or our social lives. Without even realizing it, I would be whistling at 5:30 am and my roommate would ask me to stop whistling. She would say, “How can you whistle so early in the morning? You can’t be that happy or even that awake.” But I would not even know I was doing it.
Then a few years ago I was riding in the car with my sister and I found myself whistling. She warned me that if I continued to whistle I was going to get wrinkles above my mouth. I thought she was ridiculous, but now I know she was right. So I have all of this life experience of whistling because it makes me happy and now I am paying the price.
But would I go back and live my life without whistling? Probably not. I still whistle while I work.