What Keeps You Young?

From workplace whippersnappers and brooding teenagers, to hot flashes and newfound relationships with gravity—we all have our midlife challenges, and yet everyone we’ve surveyed wouldn’t trade their midlife mind for a 19-year-old body.

The Fifty is the new… authors are all very much young at heart, so we asked them to briefly contemplate: What keeps you young—in body, mind or spirit? Here’s what they had to say:

Christie
What keeps me feeling young in mind, body and spirit? Friends I love unreservedly who are always up to something new and interesting; my son Freddy who throws himself into his life with passion and lets me coming along for the ride; drinking lots of wine, laughing a lot (easy if you drink lots of wine), loving a lot (nevermind) and forgiving yourself and everyone else everyday.

Melissa
Equal parts whimsy, wine and wonder. Big Belly Laughs, Meditation & Yoga. I do at least one thing a year that totally scares me which keeps things fresh and keeps the blood flowing. (i.e. surfing). I have a 20-something friend make me music mixes to keep my finger on the pulse. I wear my heart on my sleeve (it never hurt anyone to know I loved them). I work at joy.

Prudence
What works: Being physically fit, getting enough outdoor time, exercise time, finishing tasks, eating healthy food, hearing beautiful sounds (nature or other). Being surrounded by other enlightened beings who also are on task, contributing and making my life easy by taking responsibility for themselves and their lives.

Carine
What keeps me young is being fortunate enough to be surrounded by artists, art lovers and creative people (I have an art gallery and am married to an artist). Artists tend to look at life through alternative lenses, and that’s always stimulating. Advice: Anyone feeling like life is passing them by might try seeking out and hanging out with people involved in artistic fields and creative projects!

Cathy
Music, movement, mental stimulation; hanging out with interesting people that are older or younger than me. (The older ones make me feel young and hopeful and the younger ones keep me current and light.) Trying to keep up with technology and social media. Being out in nature, eating healthy fresh food, laughing and recharging my batteries as needed. Oh and did I mention lip gloss?

Connie
I think I’m young, I think I’m young, I think I’m young…
Remember the Little Engine that could? That’s how I feel. Just keep chuggin’ up that mountain of years (“I think I can, I think I can”) always looking forward. Laugh a lot. Big, loud, belly laughs. Go outside and play. We play what we call “hazard croquet,” traditional croquet, but played around trees, gopher holes, irrigation lines and three dogs. Add gin and tonics. It’s hilarious. Hang out with friends. Eat good food. Travel. Find ways to give back. Oh—and never, NEVER look at yourself in a mirror in full, direct sunlight.

What keeps you young in body, mind or spirit? Share your inspirational tips below.