You Don’t Stop Playing Because You Get Old, You Get Old Because You Stop Playing

I was down in the t.v lounge of my dad’s office the other day, playing table tennis with my brother, or perhaps ‘ getting a thrashing’ describes the activity more aptly, when two elderly men dressed in white entered the lounge, one was bald with a cap while the other, having a head full of black hair with few strokes of white here and there. They took their places on the seats along the walls, but me and my proud brother offered our places to them on the table, but it turned out so that the other two playing with us, left, and the two elder men took their places. I was actually willing to give up my position because I was sure these two guys would be swinging the bats for the first time in their lives and banging the new table in the process, while killing precious Master Chef episode time as well, but after the first serve I had altered my opinion a bit. Not only was it fast but it even had the essential spin that sends the ball straight into the net when it hits the opponent’s bat.

After having lost the first doubles game, my brother called one of them on (nicely) for a single’s game to face him without me hindering his impeccable game. But to his disappointment the old man still stood undefeated. It wasn’t the first time I had to sit by watching my brother’s game or perhaps even watching him lose(quite seldom) but looking at the way the old man play the way he played was a real treat. The agility with which he reacted and the swiftness with which he moved was remarkable. I could see the same enthusiasm in him as in any teenager, especially when he gave his remarks on the shots played. Cursing at an unforced error and applauding at a nicely timed shot showed that the playful spirit, hard to find in old people these days, had definitely not died in him. It was then that I realised that it’s the idea of being old and weak that prevents people from continuing their sport activities when they hit their mid-forties or fifties. Obviously, there are exceptions but I believe that if people continue with their exercises and sports they can definitely remain fit and healthy, while keeping their sporting spirit alive. So that brings us to the conclusion that you don’t stop playing because you get old, you get old because you stop playing.