Ponce, What Were You Thinking?

Ponce, What Were You Thinking?

The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been.
~ Madeleine L'Engle

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The legend of the “Fountain of Youth” was born in the 5th Century BC. Herodutus, an ancient Greek Historian, wrote of a fountain, which contained a very special kind of water; water which would restore the youth of anyone who drank from it. Over the years, the legend spread and continued to grow in popularity. By the 16th century, the legend had become so popular that Ponce de Leon, a Spanish explorer, was determined to discover the “Fountain of Youth.” Ponce and crew set sail in 1513, but never did discover the magical fountain.

Today, the search for the “Fountain of Youth” continues. Being youthful is glorified by the media. People spend hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to look and feel younger. Those seeking to reclaim their youth are on a quest to turn back the hands of time. What is all the fuss about being youthful? Whatever happened to aging gracefully? Sure you may not be as quick as you once were. It may take you longer to get out of the bed in the morning. And, it certainly takes longer to heal from an injury or recuperate from an arduous physical task. But, growing older definitely has advantages over youthfulness.

When you are young, you have a tendency to get caught up in what others think of you. Because you seek approval and want to “fit in,” you are not being true to yourself. You allow others to define you. Hence, you lack authenticity. As you mature, you become less concerned with the opinions of others. This allows you to be the real you. You come to realize that it is only when you define yourself that you are being authentic. And, there is something liberating about being who you are and not caring what others think.

When you are young, you have a tendency get caught up in trivial matters. Also, you attempt to take on too much and create unnecessary stress in your life. Minor things can easily get blown out of proportion. As you grow older and gain wisdom from experience, you develop a different perspective about life. Things that were previously thought to be important no longer seem to carry that same importance. With age comes the ability to see things from a different perspective. There is a sense of peace when you come to know the difference between what is really important and what is not.

The older you get the better you understand yourself. Youth is a period of confusion. Confusion brought on by the process of self-discovery: Who am I? What will I become? Do I fit in? As you age, you begin to have a better understanding of your talents, your strengths and weaknesses, and what works for you and what does not. It is during our youth that we struggle to find ourselves; many will try to be something there are not. There is a sense of fulfillment that comes from finding ourselves, which can only come as a result of growing older.

With age comes wisdom. Wisdom is gained from experience. It only makes sense that the older you are the more experience you have gained. How often have you heard someone say, “I wish I would have known that when I was younger.” The statement implies that we make plenty of mistakes during our youth due to a lack of experience. It is through our experiences (growing older) that we learn life’s lessons. The “Good Book” tells us how valuable wisdom really is: “For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.” – Proverbs 8:11.

So there you have it – If you are one of those people who are chasing after the “Fountain of Youth,” look no further. Ponce de Leon never found the “magical fountain” and neither will you. Stop trying to fight what is natural – growing older. Rather, enjoy all the benefits of what aging has to offer. Sure, you may have lost some hair, your hearing, and even muscle mass, but to me, it is more than worth it to grow stronger in both mind and spirit.

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It’s your life: live it, love it & celebrate it!
MJD