When asked why his early works looked so solemn but later works seemed more exuberant & exciting, Pablo Picasso replied: “It takes a long time to become young.”
I think the great artist was on to something. I believe it is possible to grow older but not grow old. To mature in wisdom and knowledge and at the same time become more playful and childlike. I have watched a few octogenarians demonstrate this idea beautifully. Here are a few of the things they do that separate them from their peers.
They live with enormous gratitude. It almost is laughable how thankful these seniors are for all things. It is childlike, naive and quite beautiful. I do not believe you can be young when you are old without gratitude.
They maintain optimal health for their age and work on staying in the best shape possible.
Dick Van Dyke wrote recently in his book Keep Moving: And Other Tips and Truths About Aging, that he refused to go down the stairs sideways the way older people often do, no matter how much it hurts him to walk down straight and erect. He believes as soon as you give in to the temptation, the over-compensation will result in a hip or knee injury that just makes aging worse.
Dick Van Dyke was born in 1925 and is 92 years old. And, he carries himself like a man 40 years younger.
They abandon worry. Life has taught them that stressing about things never helps a situation. They have learned to change those things they can change and accept those things that can’t. But most of all, they don’t spend any energy worrying.
They live with purpose. These seniors serve in their community, church or synagogue. They make cakes and take them to people who are homebound. They stay in touch with their friends on the phone or Facebook. They look out for each other. They keep their grandkids or their great grandkids – regularly. They live meaningful lives that give them a sense they are still contributing to their world. Their lives matter. They have a reason to get out of bed every day.
“So much of life is about attitude—or, more accurately, having a good attitude. In terms of the death of friends and loved ones, attitude takes a backseat to being practical, to opening your heart and being practical about the fact that everyone lives and dies, and although we don’t get to choose the way we die, we do have a big say in the way we live.”
They stop judging people. Age has taught them that even the best people have flaws and life can sometimes be messy. They have learned to focus on the good in people and to stop fixating on the bad. It takes a long time, and many do not get here, but the happiest always do.
People growing younger have finally become comfortable in their skin. They no longer have to put on a facade. They can be who they truly are. And that is very liberating.
I was a pretty serious young man. I had places to go and people to meet and successes to accumulate. I wasn’t always sure where I was going but knew I was moving fast headed towards who knows where. I was told more than once that I had a permanent scowl on my face. I was stressed out. I was old, yet still young. Now it is reversed. The fear is leaving. The laugh lines are growing deeper. I am learning to love people with no judgment.
Life is sweeter than I ever thought it could be. I am truly thankful for every new day. It does take a long time to become young. But the journey is oh so worth it.