What does it mean to be ‘Forever Young’?

Since as long as I can remember, I’ve said to myself…and to anyone who would listen, “I never want to grow up”. I also doubt that I am the only one. And for the longest time I knew what it meant to be young…but the forever part is becoming more and more elusive. Could that have anything to do with the fact that I’m getting older?

I’m still a decade or so away from getting varicose veins…and today marks another successful day without spotting a grey. But I’ve been to a couple parties this summer where I felt old. Maybe its time to hang up my red solo cup…

But first, let’s see what I still have going for me…

My go-to outfit for a fancy occasion is my tuxedo T-shirt. I still eat god-awful junk food and go on ridiculously fast and spinning carnival rides in that order…and repeat. Saturday and Sunday mornings are for cartoons, no excuses. A bowl of artificially coloured cereal is a balanced meal. And in the trunk of my car I always keep ping pong balls, cups and a regulation size fold-out table for an emergency game of beer pong or flip cup should the moment be moist and ready for such a glorious game.

Alright, I’m starting to see why my notion of youth is impermanent. I’m thinking superficially. There has to be a deeper nugget of truth to this whole forever young business. But what exactly? Perhaps if I pull apart and analyze the aesthetics of youth, I can identify the never-ending source.

Here goes nothing…

1- Absence of Fear. Tell me how many times you’ve seen kids jump off from crazy heights and literally wipeout…only to get up, laugh and do something even riskier! Now tell me how many mature adults take such leaps (sober) and leaps should be understood figuratively too. Fear is crippling and such a sensation ages you while endorsing conformity. So the lesson here is simple. Have no fear.

2- Inner Confidence. Remember when your parents used to let you dress yourself and you would wear all your favourite clothes…at one time? It made no sense, and definitely did not match…but how happy were you? Fast forward twenty odd years and we second-guess ourselves. We end up buying those plain boring clothes that make us look like tools, just so Susan in cubicle 34 won’t comment on the ‘interesting’ look we’re sporting. Lesson number two, fuck Susan.

3- Curious Mind. When we were young(er) we were sponges. Everyday was an opportunity to learn something new, and most of the things we learned, we learned first hand. Sure our parents told us the boiling pot of water would burn our finger to the touch. But we had to see for ourselves. And that shit burned. Nowadays, we take other people’s word for it…too often. We’ve stopped doing our own research and our minds have grown lazy. This is the most dangerous loss for an adult because it can lead to misinformation and even manipulation. So lesson 3, stay curious and find things out for yourself.

4- Purity of Heart. Yes, I know kids can be mean. But, that meanness is a learned behaviour. Before children are shown vice, they choose virtue. Its a sound concept; uncorrupt until corrupted. But as we get older and ‘wiser’ we also get jaded. For example, your heart gets broken one time too many and now look who’s the player! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not promoting naiveté. I am however suggesting a more blank-slate approach to human interaction. We are just so guarded these days that we often wall people out before they can prove why they deserve to be let in. Lesson 4, don’t be a dick.

By golly, I think we did it! I believe we just discovered the key to the fountain of youth and it wasn’t botox. Now go forth and embrace these lessons. And forget those who call you lame for going to bed before 10. But just promise me one thing, no socks and sandals.

Please.