Walt Disney said “Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional!”.

A pet peeve of mine is people who say “you shouldn’t be doing that, your too old”. I think that’s a silly comment. I think that one of the main reasons people grow old and boring before their time is because they forget how to have fun and feel like because they have entered some new bracket that they need to exclude so many things that they did before, I think it also may play a part in physical degeneration as people don’t believe they can do things and subsequently the body follows. They say things like, ‘when I was a kid I used to love doing that!’. Well, why did you stop? Sure, over time your body declines and you just simply aren’t physically able to do certain things, but enjoyment is enjoyment and is not dictated by your age.

Getting old is inevitable and your perspective on life, priorities and circumstances all change too. However, no matter what the changes are you should always make time for yourself and things at your core that bring you enjoyment out of life. During our formative years as we’re exposed to new experiences, try new sports, new activities, meet new people and have an array of fun along the way, we create these core enjoyment pillars that I believe in times of struggle, need, adversity or depression, you can lean on as instilled memories of enjoyment, capitalise on those feelings and utilise it to turn the tide at that moment in time.

Over the past 10 years as I’ve navigated through the my working life, grew older, entered and left different age group periods, watched friends and family grow older, started my own family and witnessed ups, downs and all arounds. Only now have I observed and recognised that so many people forget themselves and lose a piece of themselves along the way, a piece that many forget how to find.

One of my main words of advise for any new parents I give is - don’t forget who you are, because if you do then who do they become?. I know that may seem like a selfish comment but it doesn’t mean forget your responsibilities as a parent and go out and have a 3 day bender. It simply means, hold onto those things that make you happy, continue to always do those things that you have enjoyed throughout your life and whether it be consistently or once in a blue moon, make time to enjoy those pillars you have created in your soul that you can always lean on.

Peter Pan and the lost boys is a beautiful yet sad example of people growing old and losing a part of them, an important part in maintaining who they are. I forever hope to hold onto being a lost boy and intend by all means to continue doing things I enjoyed as a kid until the end of my days. I think an important part of the search for happiness is understanding, acknowledging and always being yourself without any outside influence. Continue to do the things you enjoy without others trying to force you into the preconceived societal group.

We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing

Thanks,

Dean