The Fountain of Youth
The way to stay young is to continue to be creative and active, both mentally and physically. We all know this, but we also tend to forget it.
As we get older, many of us start to fear a decline in our ability to live a strong and vital life. Get past this fear by being devoted to staying engaged and creative. Have a project, have a passion, have a reason to get up in the morning. Work to make the world a better place, to make a contribution. And keep moving!
I have friends whose parents retire and then stop moving. They sit and watch tv. They stop making any contribution to the world. And they tend to pass from this plane of existence early,
My father lived to the age of 93 and he never stopped moving. I saw this as the reason for his long and happy life. My dad never sat around (except on Sundays for sports) and was constantly involved in some project. On any given day you could find him painting a picture, playing the banjo, creating a stained glass lamp, building an animal our of wood, building a train set, or a multitude of other interests. And this was in addition to mowing the lawn, working on the landscaping, fixing things around the house, working on the cars, volunteering at church, etc. etc…
Find a way to keep making a contribution. I love seeing so many of my friends and colleagues in the world of music education continuing to share their expertise with students and teachers. I’m proud of my friends who spend hours volunteering or campaigning, helping to make the world a better place.
Keep moving, keep being active, keep your body open and flexible and strong. Write that book, create the website, give that clinic, be a mentor, tutor a student, help that new guy at the gym, make those contributions. If you do this you will never grow old and you’ll stay vital and creative. The years may add up but your ability to make a difference should never go away. Have a purpose, stay strong, be happy!
Tim Hinton
September 2, 2024
