Last weekend, I experienced something I never thought I would ever – and I mean ever – experience. For the first time in my life – I felt old.

I attended my Cousin Kristin’s graduation from Bishop Kearney High School. In the catering hall near the serving table, there was a table displaying all of Kristin’s scholarships and awards she received for all of her hard work and effort. As I was looking at what was on the table, I came across her cap and gown. The cap had her tassel attached to it with the number “99” on it. The sight of the tassel immediately made me realize that I had graduated High School ten years ago. Couple that with the fact that I remember holding Kristin as an infant and I am now attending her high school graduation party, and you can understand how I felt.

The real kicker came when I got my plate of food and went to sit with Kristin and her friends. I remember when I would have a party and my friends and I would be at a table and an older relative would sit down and attempt to involve him or herself in the conversation. Although I was happy to see my relative, my friends and I would eagerly anticipate their departure due to the fact that we didn’t want to sit with any “grown-ups” – to my horror – I have become that “grown-up”.

I must tell you that I always have considered myself to be a kid at heart. Despite the fact that in a few years I will be thirty, I never paid much attention to my age, due to the fact that I feel age is nothing but a number and how you think, feel, and live should determine your age. But I must confess that what happened at the party really has me thinking about age.

How old are you? And don’t give me the number on your driver’s license, I mean how old are you inside? How old do you feel? I don’t know about you, but there are days when I feel older or younger than my actual age. I may be 27, but sometimes I feel 16, 35, and even 80 – due to the experiences and the amount of living I have done throughout my life so far. My point is, while you may have been alive for a certain number of years – how much living have you done?

Here’s an idea, whatever your age is, take a day this weekend and do something different, something that is a diversion from your normal habits, something that will make you feel alive. From roller blading in Central Park, to riding the Cyclone, to going to a ball game. In other words, think of your age – and then don’t act like it.