We’ve all heard of the time machine. If we could go back in time, what age would we want to stop?

Five: Where making mud pies was the norm?
Ten: Where riding bikes felt free as a bird?
Twenty-one: Where the entire world was before us?
Thirty: Where we were unstoppable, unforgettable, and unbelievable?
Forty: Where inventory of career and family had to be redefined?
Fifty: Where we walked the tightrope between youth and elder
Sixty: Where dreams had to be completed before the mind or body transitioned
Seventy: Where time is short and now is the time to do what is ours to do before we die?

I heard that Louise Hay once said, “Eighties, these are the best years yet.”

Louise Hay was correct. We’re only as old as we feel and what we tell ourselves will dictate our future physically, mentally, and emotionally.

I’ve been grappling with turning 70 for a few months now. I can hardly believe that I’ve been on the planet that long! Am I really that “old?” I don’t feel “old!”

I realize that if I tell my Self I’m old, then I’ll manifest age, disability, senility, depression, or some other mental or physical disorder. Sooner or later, I have to acknowledge that my body is 70 years of age. Sooner or later, I have to face that I can see this as old or young. Sooner or later, I’ll need to count my blessings and be grateful for the opportunity of being alive and still having a purpose on the planet.

Each one of us every year has the opportunity of either aging with grace or fighting the number before us. Each year we can tell ourselves we are old or young. As they say, be careful of what you wish for and/or be careful of what you think!

I don’t know about you, but I want to live on the planet for thirty or forty more years in good mental and physical health. I challenge you to pause and think about how you view yourself growing older. I challenge you to never say “I’m old.” I challenge you to put on a coat of purple youth and to run out into the world with joy-laughing, jumping in puddles, singing in the rain, kissing a puppy, flying a kite, skating on a pond, howling at the moon, baking cookies, throwing snowballs, playing cards, skipping, hiking, paragliding—whatever brings you happiness. Acknowledge your age; however, don’t let that number define you!

As Martha Smock, past Editor of Daily Word Magazine wrote once:

When we start to count flowers;

We cease to count weeds;

When we start to count blessings,

We cease to count needs,

When we start to count laughter;

We cease to count tears,

When we start to count memories;

We cease to count years.

“Thought by thought, you can change your outlook and your attitude. Thought by thought you can change your life.”

I challenge you this year and every day to change the way you think about age. In this way, you will change the way you see and change the way you live!!!