Finding the Fountain of Youth

I had Key Lime Pie instead of cake for my birthday a few weeks ago. The pie was delicious, but growing older . . . well, it has taken me this long to blog about it, since I am still suffering from shell shock of the mounting years. This “state of shock” has been happening to me on my past few birthdays—I can’t believe how old I am getting! But, no matter how I look at it, there are no good alternatives in escaping growing old. As I contemplate this predicament, the book Tuck Everlasting comes to mind, a story about a family that remains ageless, while everyone else grows older. The book described how sad that life would be, one filled with the continuing loss of loved ones and also of boredom from being stuck in time.


And, there was also the “time-twist” in the movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, where a man is born old and grows younger throughout his life. Both stories showed the disastrous effects of what life would be like to not grow old with those you love. To be eternally young is not a good solution, even if it that were a valid possibility.


After pondering the sadness of the above scenarios, I began thinking of other options; ones that wouldn’t stop the aging process, but would help slow it down. The list I came up with was not original: eating healthy, keeping your weight down, staying fit, and even plastic surgery.

I did think of another anti-aging idea I found comforting, and felt like it doesn’t get the attention it deserves, possibly because it can’t be commercialized. This idea represents a state of mind rather than a state of being, as described by the list above. It is the notion of “timeless” relationships with people; relationships that are so meaningful they make you feel ageless. A life-long childhood friend could fall into this category, which in my book is even better because they remember what you looked like in your “prime”! You can laugh and talk with them about the good old high school days. Your conversation and your connection with them make you feel young again. Another example is friends that you share a hobby or interest, where time spent with them takes on a youthful-ageless quality. Also in this “timeless” category are family members, ones that you love to spend time with and feel life would be incomplete without them. And of course there must be laughter—laughing is an ageless trait.

Maybe the real solution in finding the Fountain of Youth is in finding “timeless relationships”. If someone makes a connection with the “timeless spirit” inside of you, it doesn’t matter how old your earthly body becomes. These types of friendships may not come easily—they take time and nurturing to develop. For me personally, I have had to be taught by others who know the secret of becoming a “timeless friend”. Unfortunately making friends does not come very naturally to me, and I apologize to many of my “timeless friends” that may be reading this; I am glad they haven’t given up on me! And as I have grown older, these friends have become even more priceless to me. They are my Fountain of Youth—making me feel young, validated, and happy.

So, as my birthdays continue to come faster, and the years seem to feel more exponential, I hope I can continue to surround myself with those people who remind me my spirit is timeless, and to grow old with them is a privilege.