September 2004

Y is for Young at Any Age

Oh, we are getting so close to the end of the alphabet! It will be time to start over soon. This time, though, I am pretty excited about the topic for “Y”: Young at Any Age.

If you have read my newsletters for a while, you probably already know that I am not talking about appearance. It’s not that I don’t care about appearance—especially my own—but we all know that it’s what is on the inside that counts.

What do I mean by “young at any age”? You may be familiar with the passage from I Corinthians in the Bible: “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” (Chapter 13, verse 11, King James.) Aren’t we supposed to be “grown-ups” at a certain age, 18 or 21?

Oh, now, don’t get me wrong. Youth is a wonderful thing. Young bodies are lithe and able, compared with those of us over 40, many of whom need glasses to read, hearing aids to hear, and, for some, even walkers to walk. Young minds are far more sponge-like than older ones. A young brain can soak up more knowledge in a few minutes than I, at my age, can hope to in a day or a week!

With all it has going for it, youth is certainly to be treasured. Who wouldn’t want to be young forever? Around the world, thousands of people spend billions of dollars on plastic surgery each year to stay looking young. And I grew up in a time when the cool saying was, “Don’t trust anyone over 30.”

In spite of all that, I, for one, do not want to be young forever! Why would I, when I enjoy my age so much? When I turned 30, I already felt more credible, more responsible, and more respectable than when I was younger.

I asked a friend of mine, who is now 41, what she thought of aging. She said, “I really dreaded turning 40. I was just miserable and cried for two weeks before my birthday. Then the big day came and went, and guess what: I have ‘grown into’ my age. I love being in my 40’s. It is turning out to be the most fruitful and enjoyable time of my life—so far!”

She went on to explain that her mother approached aging with dread, and with fears of being ignored, feeling left behind, and becoming “ugly.” My friend has managed to overcome her mother’s feelings and has embraced her age. “I’m not too fond of the bifocals, though!” she added with a laugh.

I had the privilege to meet my friend’s mother the other day. She is far from “ugly,” but is a vibrant, intelligent woman, spirited and energetic. We had a lovely conversation and I recognized her wisdom. Wisdom that no 25-year-old kid could possess.

And that’s what I enjoy about my own age. Not only do I believe I am wiser than I used to be, but I also enjoy and embrace every day. Remember “W Is for Wonder”? I have the wonder I had as a child—lost in my youth and regained in my wiser age—and I have appreciation for all that I experience and learn.

It is easy for some college students to take their education for granted, but I delight in any new education I receive! That education may be learning a new way to teach others, picking up some information about aging from my friend, or other wisdom from her mother! I learn something about my business, my business partners, and even my wife every day. This is awesome and wonderful new knowledge! How many “young whipper-snappers” would be so thrilled?

I believe that, no matter what your age, each age should be enjoyed. I have noticed with my children that each age has something special about it. Yes, even the teen years! I have loved watching them grow up and become the wise adults I hope they will be…in about 20 more years!

Finally, let me remind you of what my wife frequently tells me: there's a difference between being childish and childlike. Putting away childishness does not mean giving up the wonder and joy in being childlike.

Cherish your age. Embrace it with relish. Learn something today. Ask questions. Look in the mirror. Enjoy the wonder and the wisdom of you: you are young at any age!

Wishing you health, wealth, and happiness,

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