You can only get old by living in the past!
This is quite a bold statement, but I would encourage you to think about it.
The past can’t be recreated, as it no longer exists.
The future can’t be lived yet, as it hasn’t been created.
So all we have is the present moment.
I recently listened to a podcast by Jim Fortin, in which he described people as something like cosmic beings, briefly passing through the universe in human form.
I like this idea that we are cosmic.
The idea that we are on a everlasting journey.
What this means to me, is that yesterday doesn’t matter, nor does tomorrow.
I’m not suggesting that we don’t plan for the future, or forget our past.
But living in the present, for today, is the only physical state we can exist in.
But what about the mind, well that’s a different matter.
So many people are too focused on yesterday.
Of course remembering loved ones who are no longer with us, is important.
So is learning from past mistakes.
But are you one of those people who thinks the past was better?
Are you commenting on social media, about how everything was better in the past.
In some ways its perfectly understandable.
As we get older, generally speaking we take on more responsibility, and have to plan our lives more.
Therefore its natural that the carefree days of the past, have so much appeal.
Then there’s looking at the past through rose tinted glasses.
Reflecting on my own life, I last claimed social security benefits in 1999.
Therefore objectively, my life has improved since then.
But its so easy to focus on the fun aspects of the ‘good old days’, whilst selectively brain editing the worse bits.
So what has this to do with the title of this article?
If you have your head in the mode of thinking about how good 2005 was for example, then you aren’t living in the present.
You are instead living 19 years ago, which is aging you.
However if you live in the present, then it seems to me that you are newborn.
You literally woke up this morning, and it was a new day, and potentially the start of a totally new life.
You are reborn today, what kind of life will you choose for yourself?