142. Staying Forever Young — Aneel Aranha

Hello and welcome to The Hope Podcast. I’m Aneel Aranha. Today, we will talk about how we shouldn’t worry about getting old because age is just a number!

When I was a kid, I couldn't wait to grow older (mainly so I could get into theaters showing A-rated movies). However, when I got into my twenties, I began dreading turning thirty. But when thirty came, it wasn't bad at all. Then I was afraid of turning forty, then of turning fifty, then of turning 60. Having just crossed that, I've realized the cliche is true: age is just a number. I feel wonderful, and I think these are the best days of my life, as I did in every decade that went by. 

I know we all worry about getting older (or will at some point). What disturbs us the most is that people will perceive us to be old. However, we are as old as we feel. The problem is that some of us feel ancient, even when we are twenty or thirty, so by the time we cross fifty, we think we are at death's doorstep. So, how do we ensure that we always feel young? Here are a few tips that might help. 

One, don't stress. Stress causes more than a few gray hairs; it triggers a surge of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. Both are useful in dealing with short-term threats but are harmful when stressors are always present. How not to stress? Trust in God! He's good and great. Plus, he's dad!

Two, use your brain, especially in new ways. Nature magazine once commissioned a study where young people were taught how to juggle. After three months, MRI scans showed enlargement of the grey matter in their brains — the part responsible for higher mental functions. If you don't want to juggle, play Sudoku, solve crossword puzzles, or start a podcast! 

Three, exercise more. Besides the obvious health benefits, regular exercise keeps you looking fit, a sure-fire way of making you feel young. More adventurous exercises like white-water rafting, sky diving, or horse riding will help you feel even younger! Did you say you were too old for that? Haha!

Additionally, we can take inspiration from biblical figures who accomplished great things in their later years. Moses was 80 when God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 7:7). Caleb, at 85, was still eager to claim the land God had promised him (Joshua 14:10-11). These examples show that God can use us at any age and that a youthful spirit isn't bound by years.

All the advice above is tried and tested by yours truly, hence vouched for as guaranteed to work. Remember, you can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old! You can stay forever young.
 
God bless you.