There are many potential traps we can fall into in our quest to have a youthful approach to our lifes. One is to go all out to ape today's youth. Copying today's street slang or teenager's clothes styles simply gets an older person into trouble. As Tim Drake says 'mutton dressed as lamb' is not a desirable label to have.
A second sticky point is to believe that rejuvenation gives you the license to make all the mistakes of your youth again. As we say in our book, 'You Can Be As Young As You Think' maturity should bring benefits - what we call The Wisdom of Experience.
Not everyone gets wiser as they get older - but some do learn the lessons of life as they go. We list 6 key wisdoms that come with age in the last chapter of our book - 'Eternal Youth'. One of these is 'an enviable equanimity' and I experienced a perfect example of this last week.
You see, Tim and I are very excited as co-authors, knowing that our book hits British bookshops on June 1st 2009. It's been such a long time coming! However, we were set back on our heels last week when our editor announced that the book was coming off the presses but they'd noticed a typo on the back cover! I won't spoilt your pleasure in spotting this whopper. You'll have to buy the book for that. But here's my point.
A younger version of myself would have got very hot under the collar. Young people are nothing if not impetuous and hot-headed; they rage against the world and its injustices. However, with maturity you get a sense that the best way to deal with the slings and arrows of bad fortune is to grin and bear it. The growing capacity to behave with grace under pressure is one of the greatest boons of increasing years.
So, on your journey to a younger you, don't take on all the clothes of the young; choose judiciously between the Wisdom of Youth and the follies of youth. Our book will help you come out on the right side.
16 May 2009
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