When we think about children, we can imagine them at play. We buy them toys for their amusement. They play with friends. Hence, being playful is at the heart of being young. But somewhere along our development, people frown on playfulness, and they need to grow out of it. But then, I believe the happiest adults never buried old toys or abandoned imaginary friends. And children learn through play – thinking and social skills. In adulthood, we continue to do so.
“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” How can anyone disagree with Henry Ford? “Learning is the ecstasy of life which keeps our hearts young and our minds sharp.” (Debasish Mridha). This saying would constitute a direct answer to the Chinese verse 人生不在年龄，贵在心理年轻 (Translated as “Our life does not depend on our chronological age but on how young we feel in our heart.) Truly, we learn best when we find learning delightful. Playful learning is even better, hence the newly coined “infotainment.”
We are young at heart when we dream and fantasise. Why should we abandon beauty and our capacity to imagine timeless places where every space is filled with wonder? “Youth is happy because it can see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old”. (Franz Kafka). And I am comforted by the thought that “Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” (C.S. Lewis). Indeed, that someday C.S. Lewis referred to has arrived.
Children smile and laugh more than adults; adults could (possibly) smile and laugh more than post-adults (in elderhood). There is every benefit of whimsically looking at ourselves. The good thing about being old is not being young, for the only thing that comes to us without effort is old age. And one of the many things nobody ever tells us about middle age (or old age) is that it’s such a nice change from being young.” (William Feather). And we can watch things going in cycles – “All things old become new again. In my youth, the athletes had crew cuts, and the hippies had long hair. Now the athletes have long hair, and the hippies are bald.” (Harley King).
And finally, isn’t it paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn’t appeal to anyone? Such is the contradiction in being advanced in age but young at heart. But, “Just remember, when you’re over the hill, you begin to pick up speed.” (Charles Schultz). Betty Friedan reminded us that ageing is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength. Indeed, we cannot help getting older, but we don’t have to get old. (George Burns). So, carp diem – seize the day and make your life extraordinary!
May the joy of growing older makes you young again! Enjoy!
Vince
Dr Vincent Chong is a retired Professor of Radiology at Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore.
