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THE REAL SECRET TO STAYING YOUNG!
By Charlene Rashkow
Copyright 2002
While having dinner recently with a group of friends, a question was
posed as to whether there could be a genuine secret to staying young.
Since most of the world is always on the lookout for the fountain of
youth it was an interesting and thought provoking conversation.
Each person in attendance had their own unique views about the aging
process and all were well founded and interesting. But when it was my
turn to share, I felt confident in boldly stating, "Staying young
means finding and expressing your passion. The mystery then, if there is
any, can be attributed to tapping into the creative aspect of ourselves,
regardless of age, for creativity doesn't have a number!"
My group of dinner companions of course asked me how I had come up with
this notion and although I had absolutely no real proof other than my
own experience and that of a few of my friends, I spoke with certainty.
I went on to explain that I have been observing those who keep on
growing and changing in comparison to those who can't wait for
retirement. I have witnessed a significant difference. The
individual with a thirst for the new stays alive and vital for a long,
long time and maintains a youthful appearance, while the other just
seems to get older.
As for myself, I have just turned 63 and no one would ever guess my age.
I attribute it to my willingness to explore life, take some chances and
to finding ways for expanding upon my knowledge and awareness.
One particularly exciting event that brought my theory home, took place
in the last four years. I believe it has had a profound effect on
my life and proves my point even further. The actual event took place
when a friend gifted me with a web site as a thank you for my writing
some material for him. At first, I was filled with apprehension
and fear as to whether I could handle it. I then chose to look it
squarely in the eye and say yes to the challenge of the Internet.
Although that may not seem like a very monumental endeavor, tackling a
challenge such as the Internet for a person in their 60's is in my
opinion quite a feat.
As a result of my willingness to take on the challenge, today I write
for people around the world and am a featured author on many
well-recognized online publications. To my way of thinking, the vitality
and productiveness I express can't be measured by age but only gauged by
my actions and attitudes. To have tapped into such an amazing part of
both the world and myself brings me more pleasure and fulfillment than
words can ever express and has certainly done wonders regarding my
youthful appearance.
Because I allowed myself to become involved in something that at first
intimidated me, my spirit has literally soared. Had I not been willing
to conquer what seemed beyond my grasp, I would have missed out on some
of the most spectacular experiences imaginable.
Accordingly, the most magnificent people and projects have entered my
world simply because I made the choice to explore something new. By
doing something that I love, I have discovered that one can either be in
the prime of life at any age or old at 20. I still go through
periods when I feel a true sense of rebirth, a starting over if you will
which has led me to believe that the willingness to grow, change and
learn is the impetus for staying young. The mysterious component
that seems to elude most individuals regarding youthfulness is in my
humble opinion, the seeking of your passion, regardless of your age, and
then living it to the fullest.
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