My friend is 21 years younger. I wanted her skin; she wanted my perspective.
An unexpected intergenerational friendship made me confront my jealousy of youth and realize there was plenty my younger friend admired about my life, too.
A woman and her close friend, who is 21 years younger, forged an unlikely bond through an online writing class. Initially, the author's self-consciousness about aging led her to envy her younger friend's appearance and discipline. However, their weekly writing sessions and later smaller group gatherings fostered a deep connection that transcended their age difference.
The author recognized that her friend's self-awareness and hard work inspired her to embrace her age and become a role model. Through this intergenerational friendship, the author and her companion became mentors to each other, with the author learning to appreciate her own experiences and the friend encouraging her to challenge her worldview.
The author credits this unique relationship for transforming her perspective and helping her love the woman she was becoming.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
