Ahahahahahahahahahahah - Rachylou! I try not to be dead also!

Lots of interesting views and interesting to see the distinctions made (or not made) between being youthful and being young. The more I think about being youthful the more I think the essence I am trying to capture might be better illustrated by using the words joie de vivre -a cheerful enjoyment of life, a joy of spirit.

I think these qualities of youthfulness are associated with children, because that's where they originate, in how children innately see the world -- they experience life with pure joy, and see the world as an exciting place to be in -- until someone tries to impose rules on them

My goal is to stay spry. I was blessed with very good external genes. At 58, I have very few wrinkles, very few gray hairs, and wonderful flexibility. Internally, I was not so fortunate. I got all the genetic disease crap from both sides of my family. I had my first stroke at 29 and several in the years following. I have had seventeen surgeries to keep my body functioning. What really amazes me is that people think I am in my late 30's or early 40's. I agree with MaryK, a great therapist really helps. As does laughter, listening to anyone that wants to talk, especially the children, teenagers, twenty-somethings, and well, everyone. Appreciating all of the wisdom I have gained through this process of living helps also. So do I want to stay youthfull? No, I want to stay spry.

I want to stay curious, engaged, active & creative I personally don't associate these characteristics with youth. I believe we can only be youthful when we are young but we can be beautiful at any age.

Wow Deb! you have had several strokes since the age of 29 and you manage to look so healthy and fiesty. Hats off to you. I really like your point about listening to anyone who wants to talk. I always thought listening is so much more important that talking and I can see the connection with stayinig spry. I have a good friend who is 65 years old and has a great fashion sense and tons of curiosity about everything in life. Needless to say she looks not a year older than 50.

What a great read!
So many have commented on the youthful spirit or attitude - and that's what resonates with me. And yes, it's a bit of a stereotype. Caro has summed up nicely my feelings on 'youthfulness' - curiousity and engagement with life - and I would add passion, laughter and optimisim.
And it may help to think of the opposite - being youthful (to me) is not being set in my ways, closed off to the world passively watching life pass me by.
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I've already expressed my thoughts on "youthfulness" so I debated jumping back in but Deb's comment, along with some of the others, about coping with physical challenges is too important to get lost. Because I've always been blessed with good health, moving into my sixties with the inevitable changes that age brings has made me much more aware of how difficult life must be for those who struggle daily with a chronic illness or a physical challenge. Anyone who can cope with these challenges while retaining a sense of optimism and zest for life is awe inspiring and has my total admiration.

Many of the negative associations with age come, I think, from the physical challenges that many of us come face to face with in our 60s, 70s, and 80s. Creaky joints, arthritic stiffness, fatigue and a host of other challenges can turn even the most optimistic soul cranky and pessimistic, especially when a person has taken physical health for granted during their younger years. I now realize for many of my friends that a frown and disengagement can be from discomfort as much as from a negative attitude.

I mentioned before that my views on aging changed once I entered my sixties. Visualizing how you would like to age is akin to visualizing how you would like to be a parent. In reality, my memories of the days when I was coping with work and raising children bore little resemblance to the glossy image promoted by women's magazines. There were days when I felt like a drudge instead of a "yummy mommy", but there were also moments of great joy when I felt that little hand hanging on to mine. Aging is a bit like that.

My images of how I was going to be a fabulous combination of wisdom and youthfulness as I aged makes me smile. The reality is some days I am a cranky, opinionated old professor, while, at other times, I am surprised by my ability to laugh at something that would have driven me off the rails a few years ago. Some of my students have commented on how things that drive other profs crazy just don't seem to bother me. I think I have a greater tolerance and empathy for the busy, complicated lives that my students have today. Handing an assignment in a few hours after a deadline doesn't seem to be a big deal anymore, but being ill-mannered towards other people is something that I refuse to ignore anymore.

I think my biggest revelation has been that aging is a gift that I can accept and enjoy instead of fight. It has its challenges (with the changes in my physical appearance being the least important) and, at times renders me cranky but mostly makes me so greatful to enjoy what I've had and what remains. It is truly a good time of life for me.

Now, I promise this will be my last post on this topic!

Very well said, Gaylene.

One of the benefits of (positive) aging is wisdom!

Great question! Although I'm not upset about being my age, I think having a 9 year old son keeps me young. (We just got a pet lizard!) I also mostly do what I want, feel free to act silly, go out with my girlfriends when I can, and totally ignore most rules about what age means.

Physically I have no idea whether I look my age. I figure if I'm about to be 47, then this is what 47 looks like.

I try to keep my sense of humor.

Also, this discussion reminds me of similar discussion of the very traditional role of "hag" or "crone" that I have seen.