Staying Young: The Secret is in Doing What Makes Us Feel Alive
- Barbara Stratte
- Mar 9, 2025
- 4 min read
Life moves fast, doesn’t it? One minute, you’re living your best teen years, singing along to your favorite songs and thinking the world is yours for the taking. The next, you’re navigating adulthood, responsibilities piling up, and you’re left wondering where the time went. But what if I told you that staying young isn’t about stopping time or trying to hold on to who we were? What if staying young is about embracing every single stage of life, feeling fully alive in the here and now, and doing the things that keep us connected to our passion, our energy, and our sense of community?
I had this huge realization recently, and it all started with a moment at a concert. I watched a lead singer in a band I loved in high school now in his late 50s command the stage with energy and presence that most people half his age would envy. He wasn’t just performing—he was thriving. His vitality and authenticity lit up the entire crowd. And you know what? It hit me: we stay young not by resisting change, but by embracing the things that make us feel alive, by staying connected to our passions, and by choosing to live fully at every stage.
Staying Young by Feeling Connected
You know that feeling when you do something that just clicks—when it instantly takes you back to a time when life felt a little simpler, a little wilder? That’s the magic of staying connected to what makes us feel young. And let me tell you, that connection isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about actively doing the things that spark joy in our hearts.
For me, it was stepping into a crowd of people at a concert—singing the songs that have been the soundtrack to my life. For a few moments, I was 16 again, but not in a longing, “I wish I was younger” way. No, it was different. I was in awe of how much those same songs still resonate with me today. It wasn’t about trying to recapture something I’d lost; it was about honoring the power of those songs in my life, and the person I am now who has lived through the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
That’s how we stay young: we keep showing up for the things that make us feel connected to our younger selves. Whether it’s the music, the people, the experiences that remind us of the joy and possibilities of youth, we actively choose to keep them close. The more we do that, the more we realize that our “younger self” is still within us, alive and well, influencing how we move through the world today.
The "Get To" Mindset: Turning the Ordinary into Extraordinary
We can’t deny it—life can get busy. It’s easy to slip into the routine of “have to’s” and obligations. But what if we flipped the script? What if we chose to approach every day with a “get to” mindset instead of a “have to”? It sounds simple, but it’s life-changing.
The reality is, we get to do all the things that make life worth living: we get to care for our families, we get to explore our passions, we get to experience everything that this stage of life offers. I’ve learned that when we shift from “I have to” to “I get to,” the mundane of the every day becomes extraordinary. Even when life is busy or complicated, when we approach each moment with appreciation, we breathe life into it.
Take the man I watched at the concert, for example. He wasn’t up there because he “had to”—he was there because he wanted to—because performing still brought him joy. His presence and energy were a testament to the fact that it’s not about age, it’s about living with intention, passion, and purpose. He was fully in the moment, embracing life as it comes, and it was contagious. When we choose to engage with life like that, we keep our hearts young, our spirits vibrant, and our minds open to the endless possibilities ahead.
The Stages of Life: Own Them, Don’t Just Let Them Pass
Here’s a truth we don’t always like to face and one that i super challenging to me: the stages of life don’t last forever. As much as we wish we could freeze certain moments, life keeps moving, and those moments slip away faster than we can grasp them. But here’s the gift: we get to own every stage. Every single one. Whether it’s the teenage years, the awkward twenties, the wisdom-filled thirties and beyond, each stage offers something precious.
And the beauty of it is, the stage we’re in right now is the best stage. Not because we’re trying to be who we were, but because we’ve learned, we’ve grown, and we’re still living. Our ability to appreciate this moment—to see it for the precious gift it is—keeps us young. Because the truth is, we get to be here, in this stage, and we won’t be here forever. So let’s fully embrace it. Let’s stop waiting for “the next big thing” and own the one we’re in right now.
Aging Isn't About Getting Older—It’s About Staying Fully Alive
It’s so easy to think that aging is about fading into the background, that we reach a certain age and we’re no longer relevant. But here’s what I’ve realized: aging isn’t about stepping aside. It’s about standing firm in our own skin, appreciating how far we’ve come, and showing the world that we still have so much to offer. We’re not just getting older—we’re getting better. We’re growing into the best versions of ourselves, and we’re still ready to show up, sing loud, dance hard, and love with all we have.
So, let’s stop chasing the past and start honoring it. Let’s keep doing the things that make us feel young, whether it’s rocking out to our favorite tunes or embracing every opportunity with enthusiasm and purpose. And let’s remember this: life is a collection of beautiful moments, and no stage is too small to be fully alive in. So, get out there and own it.
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