Column: Things I Tell My Wife, by Matthew Knutson

“We’re getting old,” I said to my wife after getting off the phone. The insurance company had just called to confirm I was turning 25 next month. Certainly my youthful years aren’t entirely past me, but when a company calls to tell you that you’re no longer in the age range of stereotypical risky decision makers, you can’t help but feel more like an adult.

It’s a welcome transition for me. I’ve always been an old soul, so I’m now one year closer to my dream of fitting in with senior citizens. I’ve always been fond of the wisdom that comes with their age, so I thought I’d reflect on some people reaching what many call an “over the hill” milestone.

We’ll start with Brad Pitt. My entire youth, females fawned over how attractive they found this man. He turned 50 in December and reporters made sure we knew he was AARP eligible. He’s certainly been moved down on the tabloids’ hottest men lists, but his celebrity status has certainly not decreased. In addition to being an award-winning actor, Pitt has dedicated a portion of his life to raising awareness for world poverty. A significant piece of wisdom he shared came in the form of a fact at the LIVE 8 Global Call to Action Against Poverty concert in July of 2005.

“By the time this concert ends this evening, 30,000 Africans will have died because of extreme poverty,” Pitt said. “By this time tomorrow evening, another 30,000. This does not make sense.”

He said this in front of an estimated 3 billion people watching the concert streamed live around the world. In 2013, the United Nations calculated that every 10 seconds, a child dies from hunger-related diseases. This is still clearly an issue today, and it will take the combined wisdom of the “old” with the energy of the young to make a significant difference.

Another recent 50-club inductee was First Lady Michelle Obama. She wisely embraced her “Let’s Move” platform on her birthday with a dance party at the White House and recently proved she can “dunk” a basketball over LeBron James. Her advice frequently comes from her “Let’s Move” platform.

“We as parents are our children’s first and best role models, and this is particularly true when it comes to their health,” Obama said. “We can’t lie around on the couch eating French fries and candy bars and expect our kids to eat carrots and run around the block.”

I find it fascinating to compare the causes of these two 50 year olds. The “Let’s Move” initiative encourages Americans to raise a healthier generation of kids by being active and eating healthy while Pitt focuses on the global trend of starvation. What’s even more fascinating is that both are valid platforms.

A lesser-known person of wisdom will also be turning 50 this year. On Tuesday, Kristin Lindquist, founder of the Minnesota-based Colon Cancer Coalition, realized the milestone she’ll be reaching this year that her sister wasn’t able to reach due to colon cancer. Lindquist has started a blog to commemorate her 50th year called, “Taking a Stand for the Can,” where she hopes to encourage people to improve their fitness, be inspired to get a colonoscopy at age 50, celebrate the victory of getting screened and empower others to share their story and donate to a non-profit organization.

Lindquist’s advice comes in the form of advocacy.

“You can invest with your power to change this disease,” Lindquist said. “You are the official authority. You can get involved. Empower yourself to make a difference in the world with your voice.”

What’s my takeaway from all of this? At 50, these people are still impacting the world on such great levels. At 25, my wife and I are only just beginning. The young-adults out there like Sera and I may not have a solid grasp on life yet, but we’re getting there. We’re a generation that was raised with people reminding us that we are the future, and at 25, the future is finally beginning to feel more like the present.

On that note, perhaps Sera and I will be able to make a monetary donation to one of these causes from the money we’ll be saving on that smaller car insurance payment.

 

Matthew Knutson is a marketing specialist at Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa. Find him online at thingsitellmywife.tumblr.com.