About this quote

Getting older often brings an unnecessary sense of dread about what we can no longer do. We let arbitrary numbers on a calendar dictate our energy levels and daily choices. But physical aging is inevitable, while mental stagnation is entirely optional. You decide how much weight you give to your birth year. What would you start doing today if you forgot how old you are?

When to use it

• A forty-five-year-old manager hesitates to apply for a coding bootcamp because they feel too old to start over. They repeat these words to themselves before clicking the submit button on the application.
• A grandmother wants to join her local weightlifting club but worries about the strange looks she might get from younger gym-goers. She uses this mindset to focus on her own barbell instead of the crowd.
• A man in his late fifties gets invited to a lively music festival by his adult children and worries he will look out of place. He decides to buy the ticket anyway, choosing to enjoy the music rather than worry about his age.