Youth is just a feeling. There are many reasons why this is the case, even though it’s easier to believe that we are bound to our age and we should let it define who we are no matter what. Of course, this impression does come around for a variety of rational reasons. For instance, we know there are legal age limits that enable us to partake in many ‘adult’ activities. Moreover, we do not expect a man in his mid-30s to still live with his parents unless looking for a refuge from unfortunate circumstances, nor do we expect him to live on their income.
Age can gate us in certain respects, and for the most part that is rational and viable. But when it comes to our lived experience, how youthful you feel is often related to how full of zest and vitality you are. If you do not spend time improving these sets of internal drives, it’s entirely possible for them to diminish. After all, it’s amazing to see how some elderly folks are still as fun and welcoming as they may have been in youth, while some feel as though they have used up all of their worth and positive energy is not worth the effort. This is, of course, not true.
In the following advice, we hope to demonstrate how youth is just a feeling no matter what:
Physical Remedies
How you feel in your body is in large part determined by your health and your ability to manage aging effects. For instance, anyone can learn better posture and invest in better, more ergonomic physical adornments such as posture chairs or orthopedic mattresses. Spinal injections for back pain are also known to be a profound treatment in aided mobility-related stiffness and hardship that comes from issues like these. Physical remedies include staying as active as you can by walking the dog a few times a week and attending a fitness class or even trying a stretching discipline such as yoga to feel better within yourself. Moreover, even weightlifting compound movements, such as those emphasized at the Wichita Falls Athletic Club and accompanying book Starting Strength, give many of mature age the chance to rebuild the strength around their joints.
Of course, no one is expecting you to become an Olympic gold medalist by a certain age, and neither do we wish to diminish the limitations or problems you may have managing your health. But it can be that taking a renewed focus towards self-care can unlock our spirit more than any theory found in philosophical discourse, or any self-love platitudes that can be important at the right times.
Valuing Oneself
Unfortunately, it is common for ageism to be rampant in society, and this is especially true with how we like to hide certain aspects of the social order. For instance, in European countries such as Greece and Spain, it is normal for young and old to interact more and to hang out together and politely speak, while in some countries such as the US or UK this is less common. It’s a shame because both members of different age groups can get something from this friendship. The youth can find experience, wisdom, and clarity in the mature person, while said friend can find compassion, youthful charm and a novelty of perspective found in their younger friend’s spirit.
This example shows that dismissing people due to their age is wrong. While the recent ‘OK Boomer’ meme took national news because of how Millenials began to fight back against being labeled with certain stereotypes, it is a shame how easily we can fall back on age insults to end dialogue. The more we can socialize, the more we can value ourselves, and the more we feel connected. This societal push can help us all realize that youth is just a feeling.
You’re Never Too Old
You’re never too old to learn something new. You’re never too old to challenge yourself or pick up a new skill or hobby. You’re never too old to be who you might have been, or change your thinking. You’re also never too old to get out of your comfort zone and see the world anew. If you find the world boring then it’s important to note you’re only seeing a fraction of that world, and there’s always something out there on the horizon. Provided you don’t lose that mentality, you can flourish in more ways than one.
With this advice, we hope to have convinced you that youth is just a feeling, and age is just a number.
