It is not length of life, but depth of life.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
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I am never going to get old.
It’s not that I fear aging, but rather don’t want to be that person. The one who stops living life as an adventure because they hit a certain age. I don’t ever want to utter, “I’m too old to do that” when given the opportunity for a new challenge.
This isn’t about desperately holding onto society’s view of youthful beauty. That’s something I haven’t believed in. Instead, as my face changes, I find I like my laugh lines…the little exclamation points, adding a greater emphasis to my expression of happiness.
Being young is about maintaing a youthful state of mind.
For me, staying young has meant continuing to explore, learn, and experience life fully. In the last 10 years (age: 35-45), here’s a sampling of what I have done:
- Taken up running
- Trained and competed in half marathons, duathlons, and triathlons
- Started this blog
- Started learning guitar
- Received a second degree (Photography)
- Started a new business
- Learned new skills (graphic design, coding, web development, for example)
- Got married
Most recently, I took on a new challenge: CrossFit. I had that am-I-crazy conversation with myself, and realized it was something I had to try. I love it–the stretches, the workout of the day (WOD), the soreness that is inevitable, and the camaraderie with the other members of the box (gym). And, most of all, it’s bonding on another level with my husband (the CrossFit addict).
I still have many more things I want to do in my youth, for example:
- Become fluent in a language
- Spend a season living in Tuscany
- Learn how to make gluten-free pasta
- Re-read many classics
- Read other classics for the first time
- Start a gluten-free recipe blog
- Expand my business
- Obtain a Masters of Liberal Studies
- Go to circus camp
I know these great experiences are waiting for me in the next ten years.
Tell me, what do you want to do in your youth?
What are you waiting for?
Welcome back, NGIAD!
Love this post. I feel the same way. One piece of wisdom I learned is that I have been very blessed with a healthy body. Other than some minor aches, my body has been healthy and now, as I get older, I need to pay back the favor by taking good care of it and challenging it to keep up.
By the way…may I just add that I am still waiting to hear you play Mumford and Sons on your guitar 🙂
Thanks for the warm welcome back to writing!
Taking care of our bodies IS such an important thing as we age (not get older!). I agree, and Crossfit has been really challenging the long-term fitness goal recently.
As for the guitar, I am almost done with the first instructional book in lessons. My instructor has been giving me new songs outside the book as a result. “Somewhere over the Rainbow” is the best I have right now! Oh, and “Minuet in G.” Getting there!
Great post… Great list…. Impressed!
Thanks so much Brahm!
Great to see you back on my feed! I’m with you. You’re as old as you allow yourself to feel… No matter how many grays try to make their presence known on the top of my head (I wonder if I could rock the bald look. Works for Bruce Willis, right?)
PS: It’s a dream of mine to become fluent in another language (Japanese) one day too.
That would be a fun language to study!
It’s great to be back! I feel like so much has happened in the last year, but we are in a place where everything is settling down. I can write again, put my feet up and get lost in a book, etc. Five kids, getting married, merging two homes, and everything else that has happened has been worth it though.
I SO needed to read this. I’m now 40-and-a-HALF and have been suffering from unhealthy thoughts of all the parts of life that are behind me now.
My goals are to get back into stand up comedy, publish an ebook, and visit Iceland. I’m sure there are more, but this is a good start. Thanks for the inspiration.
Hi Angela!
I love to read I inspired someone with my words.Thanks for sharing with a comment.
At 45, I haven’t been happier in my life. It’s challenging juggling so many life responsibilities, but I am pursuing what I want, am smarter about how I use my time, who I choose to have in my life, etc. Life is only getting better with age.
As for your list, love your list–now sit down and expand it!!
You know, everything I wanted has changed so much over time. But, as of late, I feel like I finally have the luxury to figure it out all over again.
“all your life
you were only waiting for this moment to be free”
xx
LuLu
Is that wonderful about life, Lulu? We have the chance to figure it out all over again. I hope you set really great goals for yourself.