Younging. That’s a word coined by author Valerie Burton Bell in her book A Well-Tended Soul.* She says, even as our bodies become less reliable, we can continue younging on the inside, growing more lively in our spirits.
Author and minister, George MacDonald (1824-1905), would have agreed:
I like the sound of that—younging and ripening with fresh life within. Maybe you do too. (Even if you’re under fifty, you can still determine to choose younging when the time comes.)
The question is: How do we achieve it?
Perhaps the best answers come from those who’ve gone before us who demonstrated lively, spirited living into their eighties and nineties. How did they swell with fresh life within?
1. By serving others
My parents modeled this strategy. Even when arthritis caused painful challenge for Dad, he served at the church food pantry, assisted in the kindergarten Sunday School, and read to students every week at my nephew’s school.
Mom also assisted in the Sunday School, lavishing her love on children and parents alike. She sang in the choir, participated in women’s ministries, and volunteered at the church office.
Mom and Dad with their first great-granddaughter, 2010
“Experts in aging make a distinction between passive aging and purposeful aging. Successful, purposeful aging calls for continued involvement, relationships, discipline, and an attitude of faith” (George Sweeting).
I’m sure Mom and Dad never researched what successful aging entailed. It just came naturally to them, as an outgrowth of their love for Jesus and a desire to serve him.
2. By maintaining a positive attitude
Not only do joints get a bit rusty as we age, our attitudes can start to corrode. It’s so easy to let negative thoughts grate in our minds, or respond to “How are you?” with creaking complaints.
But a positive attitude contributes to joy, and joy works like oil, lubricating our spirits. In addition, the oil of gladness tends to overflow, providing positive impact on those around us.
My father-in-law was just such a person. To those who asked him, “How are you,” his stock response was: “If I felt any better, I couldn’t stand it!”
Mom & Dad Ruegg, 1983
That’s the kind of attitude I want to foster—not for the purpose of reaching my nineties as he did, but to avail myself of the abundant, overflowing joy Jesus provides (John 15:11) and then share it with others.
3. By keeping a sense of humor
A cheerful heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22a), perhaps all the more so as we age.
And no one had a more cheerful heart than Hazel, a merry senior in the fourth church my husband pastored. She was the one with a bicycle horn on her cane.
One day, in a phone conversation with her adult son, she informed him of her date that evening.
“A date?” Andrew inquired, more than a bit surprised that his widowed mother, now in her late eighties, would be venturing out on a date. “With whom?”
“His name is Michael.”
“And where did you meet Michael?”
“At church.”
“Where are you going?”
“Out to dinner.”
“Well, tell me about this Michael.” Andrew prodded.
“Oh, he’s the nicest young man—you’d like him.”
“Young? Just how old is he?”
“In his early thirties, I suspect. He…
“Mom!” Andrew interrupted. “What are you doing, going out with a man nearly a third your age?!”
Hazel finally admitted to Andrew he had nothing to worry about. Michael was on staff at our church, his wife (a nurse) was on duty that night, and Michael had offered to pick up Hazel and be her “date” for the Senior Sunday School Class banquet.
Younging—by serving others, fostering a positive attitude, and keeping a sense of humor– certainly contributes to those pleasures.
Thank you, Father, for the opportunity of younging as we age,
providing numerous delights as we do so.
__________________________
What younging strategies have you adopted in your own life or observed in others? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below!
*Zondervan, 1996.
Art & photo credits: http://www.wikimedia.org; http://www.canva.com; Nancy Ruegg (2); http://www.canva.com; http://www.pikist.com.
From the Inside Out 
Yes,I also love the term younging.I do have that in me because I look younger than my son who is in the college and I am so humourous that people miss me if I am absent in my work place for a few days.Just be jolly for it.Thanks a lot for sharing such a lovely post.🌹👍🙏
Thank you, Francis, and wow–I never would have guessed from your photo that you have a son in college. Love to hear that you bring humor to your work place. And I love that statement: “Just be jolly for it.” Amen, Francis!
Thank you very much for your uplifting message ,take care of yourself .🌹👍🙏☺️
Wonderful and encouraging post Nancy! Your parents look great! Psalm 92:14 NLT- Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.
Thank you, Dawn. People often told my parents they did not look their ages. At the time of that photo, Mom was nearing 82 and Dad was 86; they’re both in heaven now. Thank you for adding that verse from Psalm 92. That describes my parents and in-laws perfectly!
You’re welcome! I agree, they didn’t look their ages at all. I like that verse. It encourages us to know the Lord can use us all the days of our lives.
Nancy, what an excellent and encouraging subject! My Mom is 90 years old but she could easily pass for at least ten years younger due to her good genes. But I also credit her wonderful attitude! She never gets depressed or overwhelmed and barely does she have an anxious moment. Of course, most of all I credit her relationship with Jesus Christ and her trust in Him. I struggle with this myself and constantly take it to the Lord to provide me with strength and positivity.
Praise God for your sweet mother, Cheri! Such a powerful role model for those who know her, exemplifying the calm and gentle spirit Peter wrote about (1 Peter 3:4).
Nancy,
Beautiful and love the word younging. So very true. Wonderful to see the pictures of parents as we all age and know they are with our Father God in heaven and read their legacy’s. I am still guiding Bible Studies and so thankful.active in COPA and active at church and looking forward to returning to Worship there instead of by you-tube and TV. So Blessed and plan to continue with God’s help “younging” in Independent living at Sunnyside Village. Love and Prayers, Janet
You are a blessing and role model to all who know you, Janet. If anyone has achieved successful younging, its’ you! Praise God you are still guiding Bible studies and are active at church.
Great Posting! Loved the pictures. “Younging” – now I like that word too! I’m so glad that as we age, we can choose to be young at heart!
Amen, Kathy. While observing many Christian seniors over the years, I’ve come to this conclusion: people of faith can “young” as we age more easily and profoundly as a result of God’s peace, joy, and contentment in our spirits. Thank you for stopping by Kathy and leaving your kind comments!
I certainly agree – service and our attitude are the foundations. I have read one of the most common characteristic of those who live to 90+ is adaptability/being flexible. I often think about that when I am stubborn,
Good to know–thanks, Jean. I can see how flexibility would be better for our health, contributing to less stress and keeping the blood pressure down. Steve has often said, “Blessed are the flexible!” Now there’s even more reason to adopt that attitude.
Is this ever good, Nancy! I just turned 65 and am now in possession of that dreaded Medicare card. 🙂 I’m watching spots and dots appear on my arms and face and legs. Ha! But I truly don’t “feel” my age and our kids say I don’t look my age, but I sure don’t see that sometimes when I look in my mirror. However, whether it’s denial or the fact that we don’t have grandchildren yet, I still don’t usually think I’m old. Humor helps me the most, and also not sitting around very much. The stairs in our house are a great help, too. But my relationship with the Lord is the key to real joy. “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25) Blessings to you, Nancy, and thank you for this great blog!
You DO demonstrate a sense of humor, Patty! I so enjoy your blog, and that’s one of the reasons. They say if you’re in good health with few aches and pains, you’ll feel fifteen years younger than you actually are. That makes you fifty, Patty! And you are so right: “a relationship with the Lord is the key to real joy,” and real joy contributes greatly to our well-being. Thank you for that important addition to our list of strategies for younging!
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I really, REALLY like this post. Made my heart leap up in recognition of Holy Spirit speaking through your words. What an absolutely cool quote by MacDonald (I recently started reading some of his work for the first time). That blessed me in a special way because just a few hours before reading this, I was inspired by Holy Spirit to use the word “ripen” in writing a piece I’ll be posting in a couple weeks, to refer to spiritual growth. What a neat confirmation! And the quote of your father-in-law is AWESOME too. I also smiled so fondly at the description of Hazel. Thank you so much for making my day with this, my sister!
Praise God for his inspiration that ministered to you, Jennifer. I’m also praising God for all the “young” elderly saints I’ve been blessed to know in my life, providing me with the examples to follow and share here. SO glad this post made your day!
😀 ❤ 😀
Pretty sure I’ll be adding that term, Younging, to my arsenal, too!
P.S. I SO love that photo of the grinning man at the top too! 😀
Nancy,
I love the concept of “younging.” Serving others and being able to laugh at myself and find humor in life is good for the bones. Great post!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Thank you, Bev! So appreciate you stopping by, busy as you are. Blessings, my friend, for strong bones!
Nancy, I love seeing the pictures of your parents as well as Steve’s. What beautiful couples they were. Younging tickled me. I just saw an ad for a t-shirt that read: “I’m not old – I’m vintage!” Think I like “younging” better.
Thank you, Ruth. I agree with you: “younging” does sound better than vintage!
As 65 looms, I needed these words of wisdom, Nancy.
Bless you.
Been there, done that age! I’m blessed to still feel quite young, in spite of what the calendar says. So glad you found wisdom here, Linda– praise God! And let’s keep younging along!
Younging – I like that very much. Thank you for sharing. I agree that a cheerful heart takes us a long way.
Thank you, Markus and Micah! Yup–Valerie’s word, younging, certainly grabs the attention–and imagination too. Glad you like her term!
Thank you for stopping by, Markus and Micah, and taking the time to comment. You’re right: a cheerful heart takes us a long way–no matter our age!
Thank you for writing this and reminding me of these three actions that can keep me young on the inside. Music also helps me to stay young. I listen to contemporary Christian songs on the radio, but I also love old hymns with all of their uplifting messages. I play the guitar and sing to myself and others. It’s amazing how fast a truth-filled song can energize me and cause me to feel young on the inside. I sometimes even start dancing. I’m not too old yet (66), but I want to stay young at heart. Thanks again for giving me pointers on how to keep doing that.
Singing and dancing will no doubt keep you younging, Elaine!