I have a friend who hates to celebrate his birthday; he says it is just a reminder of how close he is getting to old age and death. 

He is a funny guy, but I know he is not the only youth who thinks along those lines. 

There are some young people in the prime of their youths who simply dread their birthdays and age, as they tend to feel they haven’t accomplished much, compared to others their age or they are not where they were supposed to be. The youthful always want to push their age back or hide their age.

On the other side, I find the way the older generation thinks about age very different from other age groups; I recently learned that when our elders refer to the youth as being stupid and/or brash, they actually mean it. Not that they are stupid as people, but rather that period of being a youth and full of energy is a really stupid period of life – and while some wish they could go back to that period, they would rather go there with the knowledge and experience they have picked up over the years – not that raw energy the youth strut around with.

The youth will look at themselves today and think they have lived long enough to know what life is all about; they will overcome a few of life’s curveballs and start to think there is nothing they cannot overcome – or as with many, they will find success at a young age and think the world is now at their feet. 

When in reality, this age period is one that you will most likely end up messing up the most and forever look back at it with fond but cringe-worthy memories. It is no wonder they are always in awe when they realise their age.

I laughed when I heard this but what is there really to fear at this age – at a time in life when you are in a constant state of insecurity when you can’t even decide what career path to follow or even what you will do next week – a period when you can’t tell who is lying to you, who your true friends are or how your bank charges even affect your finances. 

Sure, it is an important period in your life but it certainly isn’t the most meaningful. If you remained 18, 21 or 27, you will always be as ignorant as you are at the age. 

You will get better with growth and age.

• Olavi Popyeinawa

• Twitter: @olavipopyeinawa

• Email: olavipopyeinawa@gmail.com