Young for Your Age?

Ever notice the person who looks "young" for their age? You know they’re an adult, but after that it’s anyone’s guess. From the stories they tell, you gather they were around "when." Yet when you think back to how many years ago "when" was, you about have to do a double take. The person simply doesn’t look old enough to have been present for the story they just told.

And then there are the others. You know. The ones who tell you "I was born in the early 60’s" and you thought they were ten years older. Oooh. Regretfully, the folks in this second group have got a bit of a problem. Everyday life could be undermining their health.

Let's slip in the back door and briefly consider some things that make a person look "young" for their age:

A sparkle in the eyes that lets you know they’re having fun.
A good-natured sense of humor.
Erect posture that lets you know they have all the energy they need to live full out.
A full head of hair (bonus points for natural color).
Enjoying the benefits of hair and clothing styles that help them look their best.
Robust coloring and plumpness of the skin.
A pleasant-looking smile.
Flexibility, both in their body and in their thoughts and actions.
A fresh approach to life.

There's our model. Now let's turn it around and consider some of the everyday life factors that might get in the way of achieving the ideal that surely each of us wants. This second list is really where the gold lies, because if you can find yourself here, you know exactly where to put your health-generating attention:

Poor nutrition.
Rigid thinking & rigid habits.
Tobacco, drug, or alcohol use.
Resentment and bitterness about supposed offenses they've collected over the years.
Lack of sufficient good-quality sleep.
Poor hygiene.
Failure to get enough exercise and fresh air.
The illusion of "knowing it all."
Poverty.
The sense of being burdened by more than the person can bear.

Here’s our real question: No matter where you are today, is it possible to create a more youthful countenance?

Experience shows that it is. It"s a simple matter of managing your energy. If you’re not where you’d like to be at the moment, then consider your feeling of being "older than your years" a signal that life can get better if you give it some attention!