Opinion

I have life ...

12.9.2018

Translation: machine translated

I turned 50 yesterday, so there's no need to panic, I'm doing well under the circumstances. Thank you for asking. However, I have noticed that many of my mainly younger colleagues are a bit confused about this. So here's a little age guide.

A few months ago, I had a few thoughts about getting older.

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34, 21, 50 – How old is old?
by Patrick Bardelli

At the time, I was confused because one of my sports apps sent me a message with the following text:

Your biological age is 21 years. Your biological age is calculated based on your maximum strength values.

Today, many of my younger work colleagues seem to have a certain amount of uncertainty when it comes to age. In short: life doesn't suddenly stop at 50. No, you don't necessarily have to wear chequered trousers up to your chin and no, you can still feel something like joie de vivre. In any case, my inner child wants to go out and be silly all the time.

Sitting in the office all day? Really now? — Let's munch on tonnes of chocolate!

And yes, I only use the masculine form on purpose. Men don't talk to women about their age. That was, is and will remain a taboo for all time.

30

My biblical age pushes the average up considerably here. To put it into perspective: the average age of employees at Digitec Galaxus is around 30. So many of them could easily be my daughters and sons. And there were a few funny scenes with one or two of them yesterday. Here are two examples:

Colleague: "Happy birthday."

Me: "Thank you very much."

Colleague: "50 then. That's still ... hey ... yes, but you wouldn't even ... I mean ... wow 50 ... but still sprightly for your ... So congratulations again."

Colleague: "So 50, then.

Me: "Thank you."

Or:

Colleague: "Happy birthday."

Me: "Thank you very much."

Colleague: "50 hmmm. How is that? I'm only 30, but I'm already scared of old age."

Me: "Thank you. It's not that bad (yet)."

Enjoy every fucking moment!

Afraid of getting older at thirty? Yes, I remember feeling the same way back then. Today I know: unnecessary and far too early. Enjoy the moment and live in the now. You can be afraid of old age when you're eighty. Sounds trite? Maybe.

According to the Federal Statistical Office, my current life expectancy is 82.9 years. So statistically speaking, I still have 32.9 years ahead of me. Let's subtract 2.9 years for smoking, sunburn, etc., and because it's just coming up nicely. So I still have 30 years to live. Good. And what am I going to do with this time? Mourning the fact that I'm no longer 20?

There's a lot to do

There's a lot going on in a person's life between 20 and 50. For me, it looks something like this:

Marriages 2
Divorce 1
Daughter 1
Cats 5
Dog 1
Employer 9
Actor training 1
Training in copywriting 3
Change of residence 8
Change of industry 3
Funerals 6
Weddings 3
Satire programmes 5

Added to this are family, friendships, people who have come and gone, nights out dancing, countless hangovers, ciggies, no ciggies, Windows 95, 98, 2000, XP, 7 and 8, Yosemite, El Capitan, Mojave, iPhone 3, 5 and 6. Long trousers, short trousers, wide trousers, tight trousers, holidays here, short trips there, spaghetti pesto, fondue, sport and so on and so forth.

Ok, no more divorces or marriages are planned and our family planning is also finalised. But what else? I've recently started skating with my daughter. Who knows what's still to come. I still have thirty years and so much life left.

And what does that have to do with Galaxus? Everything!
Or how does this claim about life and products go again?

Reading material for the next 30 years? Click here for my author profile.

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Patrick Bardelli

Senior Editor

Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.ch

From radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.

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