Guessed what the subject could be. NO, not the +1 we do after 10th. I have never entered that space and can’t hereafter.

This is the event which has to occur every year without fail and takes us one step above. ‘Above’ has a sinister meaning here too. With the passing of every year, we may be in the same place in one space, say your house or workplace, and in some other space going away from the beginning towards the… This is the traditional view.

With the change in times, perceptions change too. Now we talk of chronological age based on the number of years you have graced this world with your presence and the biological age based on physiological factors depending on how healthy and fit you are.

Now you know I am talking about birthdays. Why should chronological factors decide how old one is? Happiness is a state of mind, and health and fitness is a state of body and, to a certain extent, mind too.

Let us take, for example, certain other things in life. The cedar or white teak as it is sometimes called, sofa set we bought nearly two decades back still looks solid, not even scratches. I cannot even move it, let alone lift it. I am sure it will continue to serve for many more decades. Whatever its chronological age, ‘biologically’ it will be always strong and sturdy. So too with houses. Haven’t we seen Temples that are nearly 1500 years old still strong?

Yes, as many say, we human beings always come with an assured ‘return’ ticket. It is open with no dates. In this time period, why should we measure the time spent keeping the earth warm in terms of a clock? We always celebrate the ‘clock and calendar-oriented’ landmarks in our life. Whatever astrological significance is there in our society based on this clock/calendar should be celebrated, however.

What I am trying to say in such unclear terms is the quality of life matters much more than the quantity. We come across many people who look at least ten years younger than they really are. I had a senior officer colleague who, even at 80, looked so fit, upright, energetic, active, and above all, humorous. We have a priest who must be nearing 70.

 Anybody will be amazed to see him move so briskly, jump from the dais to the floor so elegantly, easily, and comfortably, for which I may require a couple of steps. I have never seen him tired.

What is my biological age? I was quite healthy till I was hyperactive, energetic, relying on walks and buses rather than on cars as long as I was not glued to the chair and not depending on others to do my work. But as of now, with health setbacks, maybe both the biological and chronological ages are the same.

Continued in 268. +1 - Part 2