Stay Young or Stay Youthful

How many advertisements have you seen lately, that extol the virtues of staying young? It seems that we are expected to conform to an ideal of youth that for many of us, did not even exist when we were young! And the idea of aging as being something rich, rewarding and to be desired has very little scope - unless it's connecting with having a lot of money. Would you agree that it's time to find a balanced way to stay young without it having to be hard work?

Aging - which is an entirely natural process – is largely viewed with fear and suspicion in contemporary Western society. It is seen as something to be corrected, avoided and hidden. Some people spend large sums of money on cosmetic surgery in order to recapture the looks of their young selves, but is it giving them what they want? I agree and support people's right to have a choice. But how about the 'inner' process of being young? If you don't feel 'youthful' then having a smooth face or perfect breasts isn't going to radically change your experience of life.

The Fountain of Youth?

I believe that 'youthfulness' is mostly a set of attitudes, beliefs and behaviours, usually (though not always) coupled with good health. It is not just a smooth face or a perfect 'pec'. It never was. In fact, being young can be a very difficult time as most adults will remember. The paradox of youth is that with the dreams, the energy and the ambitions come many limitations.

In many societies, groups and organisations, the dreams and natural, innate knowing of children are ignored and often repressed. Often times, children are expected to follow the well-trodden paths offered to them and growing up can be clouded by dull acceptance rather than joyful living. The freedom that comes from surviving and out growing those years is one of the gifts of living beyond childhood. A harvest time, if you like, of the wisdom gained coupled with the freedom of an adult to make his or her own choices.

STAY YOUNG, FROM THE INSIDE.

Here are a few of my tried and tested methods for keeping my inner 'child' alert and alive. If you can maintain your connection to a happy and positive child-like inner self, you are less likely to be concerned about aging. In my experience, I am more able to welcome the years because I am excited by what they bring to me.

1.Be curious. Don't shut down on your ideas, your dreams, your intuition. Notice them. Bring them into your thinking and  planning.

2. Find ways to play that feel good to you. Express in ways that please you. Read silly stuff: paint, make music,  draw, dance, write, act, skip, dress up. It isn't about whether you do it 'well' it's about doing it anyway.

3. Make a point of doing something new at least once a year: follow-up on your ideas and make some new friends. Push your boundaries a little. Or a lot.

4. Watch out when you find yourself in judgement of another person. Just notice the judgement as it is happening, and also quietly ask yourself "what could I also learn from this situation?".  We so often unconsciously repeat the actions and words of our parent/s/carers that we don't realise we are simply creating a box for ourselves to live in. One way of seeing the walls of this box is to watch yourself when you start judging.

5. Laugh. Chuckle: giggle: snigger, be OK with having fun. Read the funnies: see a comedy show: share a joke, reminisce about shared moments with good friends, and perhaps most importantly, remember not to take yourself too seriously. Laughing at ourselves – with kindness – is very good medicine. And remember, wrinkles don't hurt!