Over Seventy... and the debate about my age is still ongoing!

**Over Seventy... and the debate about my age is still ongoing!**

After I passed seventy, I discovered that there is an internal dispute within my body regarding my actual age… and it seems this case won't be settled anytime soon!

My heart and soul insist that I am still young. In fact, they sometimes act as if I were still a teenager—I rejoice at meetings, love laughter and catching up, and ideas and projects come to me as if life ahead has no boundaries.

The problem, however, is that my knees and joints keep an updated copy of my birth certificate! Every time a youthful idea pops into my heart's mind and it gets excited to plan its execution on the ground, acting as if it hasn't heard that we passed seventy, the joints and knees always have another opinion. They send their messages in their own special way: a slight creak, an ache here and there, and sometimes shortness of breath joins in to support the decision… as if they all held an emergency meeting to tell the heart: "The enthusiasm is great… but let's review our capabilities first!"

As for my body's organs, they have formed a permanent committee among themselves to monitor me, and it seems its meetings are open around the clock! I move quickly… the knees object. I exert a little effort… the back complains. I sit for too long… the joints announce their presence and that they have a say in the matter!

And so, I find myself living between two teams: a heart that still counts age in the youth category… and a body that holds all the official documents proving otherwise!

The funniest part is when you gather with your old friends, the number seventy suddenly disappears. Stories about school, youth, and work begin, memories and moments return, laughter rises, and everyone belongs to the youth category once again… until it's time to stand up from the chair! Here ends the journey back to youth, and each of us begins the process of standing up in stages… one to unlock the back, a second to convince the knees, and a third to make sure all the parts moved along!

Nevertheless, I believe the most beautiful thing about this stage is for age to grow while the spirit remains young. The goal isn't to deny our age or defy our bodies; every stage has its beauty, and our bodies have a right to be cared for and listened to. But it isn't fair to add years to our age that we haven't lived yet!

We take care of our health, walk as much as we can, commit to what benefits us, and reduce what harms us… but we do not retire from joy, smiling, meeting loved ones, or learning something new. Retirement from work is understandable… but retirement from life? I haven't found any system that obligates us to it yet!

Seventy and beyond is not the end of the road, but a new chapter with its own beauty and calculations. One becomes wiser, the heart remains enthusiastic, and the joints merely request advance notice for any new project!

As for me, I will let my heart live the age it loves, give my knees and joints their right to object, and treat the body's struggles as guests through whom my Lord purifies us by His grace and mercy… no matter how long they stay, dealing with them wisely is better than entering into daily quarrels with them!

In the end… years are counted on paper, gray hair appears in the hair, and age leaves its mark on the body… but the youth of the spirit knows no date of birth.

*O Allah, grant us beneficial knowledge, righteous deeds, sincere repentance, a good life, and a good ending. And praise be to Allah, abundant praise for all His blessings.*