I'm 42 and have been with my partner for what will be 20 years in July. Yup, love does happen, does grow, go through changes and last for us gay folk!
But it remains interesting how as we age some of us kid, joke and want to leer and have a "piece" of youth.
And for the youth, how they too have to feel like "No one over "x" years of age need reply is a good statement on how youth feel about gay elders.
I know, I know, youth feel targeted and potential for exploitation by older guys but youth can exploit elders as well.
But what is the longevity and legacy of this rich history of gay men and gay youth that has preceded us? I would give a lot to have two hours to just sit and drink tea with Oscar Wilde, Christopher Isherwood or Walt Whitman. (Not to mention Sappho, Col. Magarethe Cammermeyer etc. etc.)
And I've learned that youth are SICK and TIRED of elders or those who are beyond their profile ages saying: "Oh it must be SSSSSSSOOOO great to be young and buff! You have your whole life ahead of you!" Because in reality, at 20 or at 75 we each of us has our whole life ahead of us as long as our hearts and bodies and minds continue to pump and flush to keep our consciousness alive.
And wouldn't it be most kewl to realize that we come here to this planet to make a difference. To make this world a better place, not to get so intoxicated we can't remember who we slept with or how many ounces of this or that we consumed. Or how many youngsters we managed to "have or get". I am most amazed at our community when we see how much we have and are willing to GIVE! To SHARE and to HONOR!
Like the Chanton Webmasters who have raised a standard to say that SEX is GREAT but for this site it's more about people talking about their lives, their hearts and their dreams. If you want the big stiffy or the pecks of the death or the buff sugar daddy or the twink of the day, there are sites for that too. This isn't one of them. (I say thankfully.)
But I digress, back to the issue of elders, read a great book by Harold Kooden, PhD with Charles Flowers titled Golden Men: The Power of Gay Midlife. (Avon Books).
I share the following from the book for those of us in the over the age limit crowd and those who wonder what over that age may be like....
Do's And Don'ts For Golden Men
Don't confuse youth with power
Do recognize the power of gay midlife.
Don't use age as an excuse for rejection.
Do value your own wholeness.
Don't negate any positive statements made about you by others.
Do learn to smile and accept compliments.
Don't confuse muscles with health.
Do excercise-your mind and body-regularly.
Don't use age to justify abuse of your body.
Do take care of your body-for your pleasure (and other's!).
Don't confuse perfectionism with self nurturing.
Do nurture and exercise self-control.
Don't allow ageism to make you invisible.
Get involved in the community. If there isn't one where you live, build one.
Don't let the voices of the past silence you today.
Do learn to turst your own voice.
Don't pursue other esteem.
Do esteem yourself.
Thanks for reading!
Namaste, The Woofwow Duo
No reproduction in any form
without written permission from Chanton.com.
