Is age getting you down?
Good News: Your fountain of youth is closer than you think.
Sometimes we get into a rut. These periods, when life has lost its luster, and it seems like an endless repetitive loop devoid of meaning, can linger and destroy our potential and zest for living. Ellen Glasgow said, “The only difference between a rut and a grave are the dimensions.” And I’ve felt this way during different periods in my life.
The last one was a few years before I hatched my plan to move to France. I was working a job that I’d managed to make peace with, but inside I longed to do something more with my life, something creative and exciting. My job didn’t do it for me. I was beginning to feel old and washed up.
Changing up my activities and questioning why I was doing what I was doing made the first chink in the armor of my humdrum existence. Getting the courage to leave my job and move to France finished the task.
But getting to this point was gradual, and it took building up my confidence in myself and faith in God that things would work out if I turned my world upside down. Living a more adventurous, exciting life puts me out of my comfort zone weekly, sometimes even daily. It has been a game-changer. I feel playful and enthusiastic about what my days will hold rather than being bored by them and anticipating what will come with apprehension.
It is this playfulness and zest for learning and a newfound willingness that has gotten me out of my rut (or living grave) and has made me thoroughly love life.
Earlier this week, a few friends and I went on a hike in the mountains. Our destination was a natural hot sulfur spring where we’d spend a few hours relaxing, soaking up the healing properties of the water, and enjoying the mountain views. It was a fascinating trip.
This adventure was a bit scary for me because a week earlier, I’d fainted after soaking in a nearby hot spring. In the back of my mind, I envisioned fainting again, this time high on a mountain far away from help. But I tapped into my childlike love of exploring and decided to go to combat my fear. Aware of the possibility of getting lightheaded, I had a plan to avoid another fainting spell and went on this hike to the hot spring.
My friend had portrayed the trail as a series of little peaks and valleys that would take about 30 minutes. What he hadn’t said (or remembered) was that these peaks and valleys sometimes concerned slick rocks that made it awkward to maintain our footing. So the hike was not as easy as I imagined. But we arrived safely, and the trek made our hot tub experience that much more enjoyable.
The day before, I’d written an article for publication in an upcoming book, The ABCs of Living. My Letter was Y, and the topic I picked was “Youthfulness.” I wrote about how disillusioned and jaded adults can remember their inner childlike essence. How tapping into their radiant genuine natures (which have been buried) helps them shine again as children do, and allows them to begin to fulfill their true potential once again.
As I was soaking up the good energy from the hot spring, it dawned on me that my trek and overcoming my fear of fainting was, in essence, a journey to the mythical fountain of youth. It was a mini-representation of my move to France, where everything is new and different for me. I’ve been able to see things with fresh eyes and a new perspective. I now appreciate the beauty of life again and am awed by its wonders.
Your Fountain of Youth is Closer than You Think. Trust your Inner Guide and Follow Your True Desires.
