This quote caught my attention:
How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
~ Satchel Paige
What do you think? If you had never counted birthdays and totally lost track of your birth date, how old would you think you were?
Some people claim they’re 49 going on 30. Others say they’re 60 and complain like they’re 90. Some are 50 and act like they’re 15.
It’s a thought provoking question.
If I were to answer the question, I’d say I feel around 27. After I do 30 sit-ups and 30 push-ups with my son in his exercise routine, I’m not sure I feel like I’m 27… 🙂 but honestly, on the inside, I feel very very young.
Not far from hitting the half-century mark, many people my age think of winding down…of when they want to retire, slow-down their activity, and join the “sipping lemonade in the sun” club. But not me! I have so many adventures yet to embark on, discoveries yet to make and spiritual advancements to achieve, I see several decades of vigorous, productive, and profitable engagement ahead of me. I’ve barely begun…
Having said that, honestly, I shy away from the whole year-counting fascination anyway because I’ve received so much grief about my age in the past.
For ten years I lectured on Christian Science and spiritual healing across North America in front of hundreds of audiences, and to tens of thousands of people. Before an event, I would greet people as they entered the auditorium, shaking their hands and getting acquainted.
Many attendees would be surprised when I introduced myself as the speaker and pop out words like “But you’re so young.” Sometimes their comment indicated delightful surprise, but other times it felt like a disqualification for speaking with credibility. I had such a youthful look for my age that many people took me for 15-20 years younger than I was. It happened so frequently, I started to expect it.
At first it bothered me because it felt like my youthful appearance was a liability for my career. But fortunately I did not buy into that false line of reasoning.
I thought about Bill Gates and his youthful look. It didn’t stop him from forging ahead. Whether you agree with his tactics or not, he didn’t let outward appearances stymie the fulfillment of his vision.
So, I gave up concern about what age I appeared to be long ago. I cherish Mary Baker Eddy’s statement, “Man in Science is neither young nor old.”
Science is a term she uses to refer to how God governs the universe, including man. Under the laws of God, our capacity for success, our abilities, strengths and outlook have nothing to do with passing years, but everything to do with God’s ever-present ability to sustain, maintain, invigorate and prosper us.
God’s strength never wanes or wavers, never ages, or passes away. He is our source, and when we stay conscious of our at-one-ment with God, we feel the ageless power of Spirit sustain us day by day, regardless of what date the calendar reads. We grow stronger, happier and healthier, not the opposite.
So, back to the question, “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?”
The best answer I can think of is, “I’m neither young nor old, but ageless!”
Life is eternal. Years are irrelevant.
going back to our “brother/sister bird” comments from yesterday…have you ever seen an “old” bird??? I always think of birds as ageless…I am going to be a bird today! No speciesism “in Science” either today..love Kate
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Age has always been a rather nebulous concept for me. I’ve been called both “an old soul” and “childlike” in the same day (and sometimes in the same conversation!) … and depending on the circumstances, I am either 31 going on Boomer, or I’m a 4-year-old with really long legs. (That can fluctuate from moment to moment, BTW.)
Ah, Kate, I like your analogy…no I’ve never seen an “old bird.” Birds are birds… Ageless… Me too!
It’s the white hairs that are cropping up everywhere that’s made me feel so old recently. It seems like until i was 35, people thought I was in my early 20’s. Then as I went past forty, along came these white hairs and people think I’m 15 years older than I am. I’d like to think I was ageless, but the physical body tries to tell me different. SO should people try to look younger by changing their appearance? Something as simple as dying your hair, or as drastic as tucks and nips and lifts?
The authentic you is the most beautiful “you” there is to present to the world.
I would spend less time worrying about what other people think, and more time cherishing your wonderful, beautiful completeness as a child of God.
It doesn’t matter to me what color people’s hair is. It’s what’s happening in their thinking that I look for. The rest is cosmetic, superficial and of no real substance.
So, what has substance to you?
I heard that in Christian Science, your thinking reflects your experience. So if you have “young” thoughts, you shouldn’t get white hairs. If thought is substantial, than matter should conform with those thoughts, and I would think that I wouldn’t be getting white hairs at all.
Also, it seems like you have to worry about what people think. You are less likely to get employed if you look old, and unfortunately people are always judging from the outward appearance.
I would think that if thought governs experience, then the most beautiful person is the most spiritual.
You are full of thought-provoking questions!
But…who said white hair means you’re old? That’s just a belief, not a fact. I know many young people who have white hair. Yes, lots of people believe it, but it’s not factual. It’s a belief, a time-honored belief.
Matter is just mortal belief objectified. Material conditions are whateve belief says they are, but none of it is rooted in reality.
What is “young?” It’s not a condition of matter. It’s a condition of Mind. A 70 year old can think and act much younger than a 20 year old.
If you see yourself as old, you’ll live that belief out. If you understand yourself to be eternally fresh, creative and spontaneous, you’ll live that out.
It’s your choice.