About the time I was into my early 50s, I realized that there are a few things that--had I known then what I know now--I'd have taken better care of. (I realize that people, like me, who care about grammar would be distressed by that sentence, but I'm leaving it.) There are lots of physical and mental attributes that can be adjusted at almost any time in life. But, there are some things that the carefree attitudes of youth can alter forever. I can think of two things that I wish I had cared for with greater diligence: my skin and my teeth. I am very fair-skinned, freckled like crazy when I was young, and easily sunburned. I wish I had used more sunscreen and moisturizer. I'm dedicated now, but the wrinkles are there to stay. I was very lucky that my teeth have always been quite straight, but if I had brushed more often, and flossed daily when I was young maybe I wouldn't have so many fillings and crowns. Although now people get a mouth-full of crowns or veneers just so they can have an extra-white, dazzling smile.
The third thing that I think people should be more careful with when they are young is hearing. Fortunately, my hearing is still very good (my husband calls it bionic), but lots of my friends and relatives have lost acuity. I'm afraid with the iPod we'll have an entire generation of people with hearing loss in their 30s and 40s. You don't realize you're hurting it until it's gone.
Someone once asked my sister whether she'd rather be blind or deaf (who knows how that conversation came up). Cindy, in her straightforward fashion, said she'd rather be blind. She said if someone is blind, people try to help them; if someone is deaf, people are just annoyed by them. I think she has a point.
Skin, teeth, hearing...three things to take care of when you're young, so you can enjoy them when you're not.
6 comments:
I agree with you completely. It used to make me crazy when I could hear music coming from my son's ear buds because I'd know he'd turned it up too loud. Somehow you never worry about these things when you're young. Sigh...
teeth, i agree. i have a mouth full of fillings and crowns and getting two more crowns this week that I have to pay for, but happy i still have all my teeth except for the wisdom teeth. wonder why they are called that? anyway, my husband has perfect teeth, no cavities and doesn't ever have to go to the dentist because he was raised in Texas where they had just the right amount of flouride in the water when he was growing up. Can you imagine a life without dental work or exams or cleanings or numb lips? it's not fair!
Good advice, but the young don't listen. Tanning is all the rage. I have good skin and OK teeth, but the rest of the bod is iffy.
I started using sunscreen daily last year. I just turned 26. I'll let you know how 40 years from now if it was worth it.
Okay, but you know I'll be 99 by then.
With teeth, it's like a triple-whammy!
It's no fun; often pain is involved. I am not the bravest one in a dentist's chair.
It's inevitible at this point in our lives.
And it's so flaming expensive!!
I just had a tooth's filling repaired and it was $302.
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