Old is Gold

Paris, March 2023

Age is a privilege

And life gifts us: the 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 of youth and novelties, the 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 of older people and classics.

When it comes to evaluating people and judging objects based on their age, we face another bias: the older is often considered as less capable, less able to “function” and adapt, less attractive.

In other words: unfit, outdated, imperfect.

The truth is that it comes down to this simple observation: if we do not recognize the value of others and of objects, if we do not give value to them, they feel and they look useless, with no meaning and no purpose.

But what we see as age is 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄-𝗵𝗼𝘄, what we see as imperfections is the outcome of an enduring endeavour, built over 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 and 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀: “Imperfections give character, personality and a history.”

Patina gives a certain lustre to objects, as experience can shine through the skills of those who are happy to 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿 and to pass on their 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲.

For more 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 experiences and collaborations over time, invest in long-term relationships with people and objects.

𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗹𝗱, 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀.

They are the 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆 of our culture and civilization.

As they age, they nurture our rooted 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 and our 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 for the future.

To judge based on age is shortsighted. To appreciate the 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 and 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 of aged appearance is to broaden our 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗼𝗻.