Why NOT act your age

3/1/2022

Dear Why Team member,
I hope this week’s message finds you well, inspired and happy no matter your chronological age.

Audio: 🗣

I have to say, I’m still adjusting to the idea that I’m an adult :-) maybe that’s why some of those in my life say that sometimes I don’t behave like one.
But what does behaving like an adult mean? Does it mean being more serious? Clearly there are times that call for us to be more responsible and take certain situations more seriously, but as far as I’m concerned, I’m going to have as much fun in life as possible until my last day.

How about you?
Have you gotten too serious?
Have you come to resent those who seem to be having more fun?

I recently had someone try to criticize me by telling me all I know how to do is work and have fun :-) of course I was deeply hurt and offended, NOT!
If this is the worse someone could say about you, you’re probably doing alright. The criticism was a convenient oversimplification I have lots of responsibilities as I’m sure you do as well. I’ve just found that the load is not so heavy when I am having fun along the way.

Reflecting on the old saying:
“act your age”, is this an age of our choosing or time bound by counting the calendar years since birth?
We have all met those who are physically old, yet young in spirit - and of course the opposite, physically young, but old and crotchety in spirit. Seems a lot of young people today behave like the crotchety old man on the porch yelling at kids to stay off the lawn - “you’re damaging the grass” :-)

How old are you - emotionally, energetically, spiritually?

At this writing, I just walked out of the gym where my trainer of 17 years kicked-my-butt. I can tell you with all certainty that I’m not 58 years old - ask my kids and they’ll tell you :-).
Christ said Heaven is seen through the eyes of a child - who wants to live without seeing and experiencing heaven?!

There is of course, a time for being more serious and responsible, but to come to the place that having fun is seen as irresponsible… is a tragedy.

I’m reminded of the 90 year old woman who said
“oh to be 70 again” :-)

How about: “my friend died so young, she was only 92” - I heard about this from a friend who’s brother-in-law’s grandma really said this about her friend :-) Based on the calendar she may have achieved 92 but how old was her spirit for her to be remembered that way?

I’ll never forget when my kids were young an older friend of our family telling me:
“these are the times of your life”
I remember being determined to be as present as possible. Or, another touch stone thought “youth is wasted on the young”. I remember being determined not to waste my youth. And now that I’m physically older, I feel like in many ways I’m getting younger, less anxious about the details, more present to the amazing life I’m privileged to live. And from my daily mantra of asking “how can I serve more” I feel called to be more of a living example of how to get the most out of life. It’s difficult to inspire others when our own lives lack a sense of abundance.

We can’t serve from an empty cup.

This year, more than ever, I have been living my BEST YEAR EVER! And, as I’ve been sharing this year via these blogs, living our BEST DAY EVER has to have some fun - energy from that timeless place where we laugh and celebrate!

A young man used to regularly ask his 90+ year old great grandfather “how old are you today?” And he’d look out the window, a smile would come across his face and he would say, “today I’m 35 years old” :-)
And this is how I will live out the balance of my days - tomorrow is promised to no one - today is all we have and I plan to be more grateful than ever for this day, for this moment!

Be sure to add to your gratitude list every day - it’s a must for us to consistently remind ourselves how full our lives are in this very moment. Let not your habitual lack-focused mind have you miss the beauty all around.

Be young in spirit no matter your age, notice the joy expressed by a child and find your way back to those days of wonder. Yes, pay your bills - and then let it go and watch that sunset. Get outside and see, truly see the trees and the birds. In my mother’s final days in hospice she thrived on “today, I will rejoice”. She marveled at the ray of sunlight that fell upon her face - she would smile in gratitude. Don’t miss those opportunities to be grateful, to have fun and notice how such a spirit turns back the clock and empowers you all the more to address the challenges of life.

Consider the proactive activities and disciplines that empower you to act the age of your choosing. Remove all labels placed upon you that keep you from living your best life. And you’ll no doubt make it your BEST YEAR EVER!

Make it a great week!

Steve Luckenbach

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