Our Kids Are Getting Older, But We’re Not
We find it funny… our kids are getting older, but we’re not.
How do we know they’re getting older? Here are the clues…
1) Our oldest son left home to take his 3rd year of university in Germany. He’ll be there for a year.
2) Our second son is starting university at home this year. No more high school for him.
3) There are no more hockey games to go to where we get to watch our sons play. Yes, we could go watch our second son play beer-league hockey, but he’d probably be embarrassed.
4) Our daughter is still enrolled in dance classes, but we don’t need to drive her there anymore.
5) Our daughter is in grade 11 this year.
That’s definite proof that our kids are growing up… and mighty quickly too!!
How do we know that we’re not getting old? Here are the clues…
1) We don’t feel old. (That should be enough… but OK… here are more clues…)
2) We still do a lot of the things we did when we were “younger”… like biking, running, hiking, etc.
3) We can still remember being our kids’ ages. (Yes, that does scare us)
4) We still have dreams and goals. (No dreams and goals = not living)
5) We’re still learning. (Again, not learning = not living)
There you go… proof that we’re still young.
If we look at life this way, then age truly is a state of mind. Yes our kids are getting older… but they’re still young…. and yes, our “age” counted in years may indicate we’re not kids anymore… but darn it, we’re definitely still young too.
So get out there and do things. Tap into your goals and dreams and take action on them. Make plans for your business and set your sites for the horizon (remember to enjoy the journey along the way). And learn… learn more about what you’re passionate about…. become an expert in it and grow your business around it… then it’ll be play and not work at all.
Play = Young. The fountain of youth isn’t a place, it’s living your passion. And that is well within all of our reach… so go for it!! We’ll see you all out on the playground.
Drop us a line in the comment section and tell us what your passion is. We’d love to know.
2010-09-05 @ 6:15 pm
Hey Pat and Lorna,
I can kind of relate. Our daughter turned 12 in June, and my son turns 15 in 3 days 🙂
We are pretty close, and I realize that the time will go by (and already has) very quickly, so I always try to make a point to talk to my kids everyday. I mean…ask how their day went, and if I can help in any way. I’m not perfect, but I’m trying 😉
Cheers,
Mike
2010-09-12 @ 3:11 pm
Mike,
It is so very important to actually have real conversations with our kids… and to let them know that we are there for them. No parent is perfect, but we all do the best we know how to do. Sounds like you’re doing a wonderful job!
Thanks so much,
~ Pat and Lorna
2010-09-05 @ 7:31 pm
This post gave me a giggle and helped me to not feel so OLD. My son just turned 19 and is finished College and following his passions in life. The good thing about that is, it gives me time to pursue my passions like personal development, cycling, Blogging, etc. Now all I have to do is figure out how to hold off these Canadian winters!!
Great Post!!
Wendy
2010-09-12 @ 3:14 pm
Wendy,
Glad we could help you feel young… and it’s so cool that you are following your passions. That’s one thing, that no matter our age or anything else, is so important in our lives.
And about our winters… wish we could do something about them too 🙂
Thanks,
~ Pat and Lorna
2010-09-05 @ 8:34 pm
I love your post. It is so true that if we are active and learning and living life, then age is just a number. I have written many articles about aging, centenarians and supercentenarians (people living past 110). One of the most important aspects is that they have a network of close friends and family, they continue to be active and they have a spiritual connection. You two seem to have all of that and much more.
Warmly,
Erica
2010-09-12 @ 3:18 pm
Erica,
We love what you have discovered about the people who have experienced so many years… a lot of wisdom there!
Thanks so much for your comment and kind words,
~ Pat and Lorna
2010-09-05 @ 11:57 pm
Hi Pat and Lorna,
love your article. That is a cute picture the baby at the labtop.
What’s next baby calling mum on the cellphone from the womb?
My boys all left home and are doing their thing.
I think I am keeping ‘young’ by constantly learning new things.
I am learning lots from being part of the TSA.
Thank You.
Cheers,
Yorinda
2010-09-12 @ 3:21 pm
Yorinda,
That’s a good one! Who knows, in the future maybe they will start implanting communication devices for us to “talk” to our developing babies 🙂
Learning is a great way to stay young… and yes, we do agree that TSA has given us so many wonderful people and “nuggets” of information to learn from.
Thanks,
~ Pat and Lorna
2010-09-06 @ 8:21 am
Hi Pat and Lorna,
You certainly struck a chord with me. My eldest started high school last week and just weeks ago he was learning to crawl! Whilst I’m older, I don’t feel it in fact I’m probably fitter now than I’ve been in 20 years. It’s the little things like the hairline beating a retreat that gives the game away! You’re also right about learning. I’m learning every day and it’s feels so different from when we’re young and having information forced at us. We now learn because we want to and it makes it so much fun…
Thanks again for your post.
Regards,
Andrew
2010-09-12 @ 3:25 pm
Andrew,
It does seem like weeks and not years… doesn’t it? It’s so cool you’ve committed yourself to health, fitness and learning… a great combo for keeping your youthfulness. And we never thought of learning like that, but you’re right… we now have choices on what we learn and choose those we feel connected to and passionate about.
Thanks,
~ Pat and Lorna
2010-09-06 @ 11:54 am
Love this post.
As we get older we must stay young at heart.
Be active, join a group, take up golf, do things.
Stay young at heart!
2010-09-06 @ 6:40 pm
Pat & Lorna, I can really relate to this post. I have 3 boys, my oldest is 26, and I have twin boys 22. Like you said, I really don’t feel old, but when I tell people the ages of my children I think it makes me sound old. But hey I feel good, and age is just a number anyways. Thanks for the fun post! ~Joseph McDevitt
2010-09-06 @ 7:31 pm
P&L,
You’re hitting home with this one for sure! Can’t believe my daughter is starting her last year of high school! Where did the time go? I still think I’m 25 and am probably in better shape now then I was then. Totally agree with you, it’s all about living with passion, but then again, I AM “The Passion Doctor” aren’t I!
Thanks so much,
Adam
2010-09-07 @ 8:28 am
First congrats on a job well done, your children are blessed to have such cool parents.
Second another reason you are not getting older, you know twitter and facebook are and you use them LOL.
Third I agree with everything you said in this post. We are only as old as we feel and act.
They key to staying young is acting young. When we were in High School we played sports, we learned, we enjoyed our friends, exercised, ETC. To stay young we must continue to do all of these things.
Rob
2010-09-07 @ 11:32 am
HI Pat and Lorna,
So true that age is a state of mind. Life is so short so why wouldn’t you want to have a youthful state of mind. But it’s important to act, think and dress young too. I don’t mean wearing your daughter’s or son’s clothes but dressed in clothes that make you feel good and look good. In addition to taking care of your fitness, I run/walk a few times a week in addition to some yoga to stay fit. It’s all connected: mental, physical and emotional well being to staying young :).
Janette
2010-09-12 @ 3:50 pm
Janette,
So true!! We both love daily fitness time… it does help us to have the energy to keep going and keep up our busy schedules. And neglecting one aspect of our lives can make a difference… we need to keep all three in shape.
Thanks,
~ Pat and Lorna
2010-09-07 @ 6:07 pm
Pat & Lorna,
Thanks! You are so right in this post! We are only as old as we choose to be. The fact that we thrive on continual learning makes us always as young and curious as a student.
Congratulations on how well your children are doing. You’ve apparently done a great job of parenting.
Once our kids find self development and realize that school doesn’t end with college, they can stay young like us too!
Thanks for sharing this unique perspective that makes us feel so young again.
(Dave) and Dawn
P.S. Congrats on winning #1 Syndicator in TSA again!!
2010-09-12 @ 3:55 pm
(Dave) and Dawn,
Amen to keeping up with continually learning. Got to keep the mind functioning or we get old pretty darn fast. And curiosity… great point… kids are curious and there is no reason why we should lose that as we get older.
Thanks so much for the kind words and for stopping by!
~ Pat and Lorna
2010-09-07 @ 8:56 pm
Hey guys, I agree with you. Doing things, wanting things, learning things keeps us young. You asked about our passions. I have two. One is my business. I truly love what I am doing. I have set out to help as many people as I can and I love doing it.
My other passion is sport. And not only to watch, but also to play. I am a tennis player and a golfer. If that does not keep me young, nothing will.
2010-09-12 @ 3:58 pm
Karin,
We can sure tell that you are passionate about your business… it definitely shows. And the fact that you’re doing it to help others is great!
Hey, Lorna could use some help with her golf game… got any pointers?
Thanks,
~ Pat and Lorna
2010-09-07 @ 9:02 pm
Pat and Lorna. Getting older is for others! Better to go through life feeling like you are always 21 than to go through life feeling like you are already 101! It is all about having the right attitude and you both are a shining example of how to live young.
2010-09-12 @ 3:59 pm
Scott,
As Brian Adams puts it… “18 ’til I die” :)… and attitude is so important!
Thanks so much for the comment and the kind words,
~ Pat and Lorna
2010-09-08 @ 3:07 pm
That is a great blog post. I feel the same way. It is especially funny when our 10 year old tries to tell us that we are old. I just laugh at him. Just wait till he gets my age and I am going to remind him of his comments!
2010-09-12 @ 4:07 pm
Emily,
Oh, you get that from your kids too? Yeah, it is good for a laugh. It’s a lot different from their perspective, but they’ll figure it out in time…
~ Pat and Lorna
2010-09-08 @ 3:44 pm
Hi Pat and Lorna:
I love your post – grandmother of four here, and the oldest will turn teenager in 6 months. Ackk! I love this time of my life, though, and those of you raising children will have this to look forward to — grandchildren are the best. My grandchildren have two great grandmas — their dad’s mother, who can whip up home made rolls and make a beautiful dress out of a flower sack — and their mom’s mother, me, who is the wacky, musician grandma. I don’t bake cookies, but we have a blast whenever we get together. I appreciate the tips for staying young at heart. We may not move as well as we used to, but we still have a lot of living to do!
Wishing you a song in your heart,
Leslie
2010-09-12 @ 4:10 pm
Leslie,
You sound like such a cool grandmother! A lot of fun and never a dull moment. Glad to hear you’re loving this time in your life… no matter how old we are, if we are having fun then it’s all good.
To living!
~ Pat and Lorna
2010-09-08 @ 5:21 pm
I love it guys. I actually feel younger now at 62 than I did at 52. I owe it all to personal development and how I think now. My passion is to assist people to realize what I finally came to discover. We create our live every day and I love it.
Thanks for a wonderful post,
Michael
2010-09-12 @ 4:12 pm
Michael,
It is true… our thoughts and what we create in our lives makes all the difference. Live our passion and we will be forever young.
Thanks,
~ Pat and Lorna
2010-09-09 @ 8:38 am
Hi Pat & Lorna,
I can totally relate as my son, who is Junior in HS & will be 17 in January, to an extent “has his own life”…lol! Yes, he still needs me for the occasional “money” transaction or a ride somewhere (as he does not yet have his own vehicle); For the most part though, he seems to do his own thing, making plans with friends, etc. In some ways it is wonderful (because now I seem to have a little more “free time”) yet in other ways, it does make me sad to know that my “baby” is growing up fast & will be off to college in two short years. Like you state though, I don’t feel any older & continue to thrive & grow as an individual (which I think is wonderful!!!) 😉 Thank you so much for sharing! Christine
2010-09-12 @ 4:21 pm
Christine,
It is a mixed-emotion thing isn’t it? Glad to have some of our own time, but missing the “little kids” we once had. It is a good thing we’re not getting older 🙂
Thanks!
~ Pat and Lorna
2010-09-09 @ 11:45 am
Ooops, yes those side glances in the mirror are a wake up call sometimes. Yikes, but it is all in the heart, right? Glad to hear you guys are following your passions, setting goals and still dreaming. Everyday I feel like I get a little closer to my passion. I get better at defining it and better at letting go. Trust in the process has been a long journey for me. My passion is writing and seeing people moved to change when they read something I have written is one of the greatest feelings in the world. We can move mountains just by the way we form our words and arrange them gently on the page.
2010-09-12 @ 4:23 pm
Nicole,
Yes, age is not how old we look either (thank goodness)… it is in the heart… and in our attitude. It’s what we create and focus on that keeps us young and alive. You really seem to have focused on what your passion is and it definitely comes through in your blog posts… we love to read them!
Thanks so much,
~ Pat and Lorna
2010-09-09 @ 2:44 pm
It is an amazing thing to see your kids grow and realize that they are grown up and you are still the same(not really) I work with young people and sometimes forget that in their eyes I am old…not a good thing maybe. You are right on the mark though about getting old..it is a mindset and there is not reason to become the walking dead or to decide that you are old.
My friend called me the other day as she turned 80 and said…oh I’m 80! I just realized that means I must be old and then laughed. She has lived a very full and active life so forgot to get old…it was not necessary.
2010-09-12 @ 4:26 pm
Rebecca,
It is amazing… and sometimes we forget too… that to the young people we are old. But on the other hand, if we can make it apparent to them that age is not a factor and that they can still be young no matter what their age, they’ll be in a different state of mind when they get to where we are.
We love your friend’s attitude!! An inspiration to us all!!
~ Pat and Lorna
2010-09-10 @ 7:54 am
Hey guys thanks for making me feel better and taking off about 20 years…I can’t believe my son is going on 28 already. Boy is he gettting old! Time does fly by quick and that is why we cannot let any cob webs grow building its web around us and holding are mind and body in a constant state of “same”…..
Always keep a never give up attitude, try and eat healthy, go to the gym and keep your body strong in mind and spirit and it will all be good one way or the other.
Wishing you guys all my best 🙂
2010-09-12 @ 4:29 pm
Larry,
Cool point… keep moving, keep the passion burning and never get “comfortable”. And yes, we agree… there is more than one aspect of our lives to keep moving… body, mind and spirit… all very important.
Thanks so much!
~ Pat and Lorna
2010-09-10 @ 10:43 am
Today is the first time I have visited your website and what can I say really other than it is really COOL!
I like the layout and your graphics.
Also age really is just a number, but I heard that you can slow down how fast the numbers add up just by being extremely cool. You are doing a great job at that!
Scott
2010-09-12 @ 4:30 pm
Scott,
Thanks so much!! Keep up the Cool Factor!
~ Pat and Lorna
2010-09-10 @ 1:42 pm
Refreshing blog. Lots to relate to. Our 3 boys think we are the nuttiest couple they know. We travel the world and still can outwork them on a regular basis. Our house looks like a travel museum and we gladly kept all 8 dogs this past weekend while everyone was gone over labor day. In fact, we are so interesting they it is not unusual for them to invite us to dinner or a movie just for the company as their friends are boring! It is good to be young no matter what the age.
2010-09-10 @ 2:21 pm
I love this post! I have 3 kids and the keep me young for sure! One of my passions is photography. I love to capture moments of my family and the places we go and things we see. Time goes by so fast and it is fun to be able to relive those memories. Even though my body tends to argue with me sometimes, I still feel young in my heart and mind…as long as we keep that spirit going then we will never grow old. 🙂
2010-09-10 @ 8:09 pm
Hi Pat and Lorna,
Ha ha! I love this post. Not that I needed to rationalize that I’m not getting older while my “kid” is, or even my two granddaughters (did I just admit that?)… LOL. I agree with you. Staying young is more than a state of mind. It’s also a state of play! And learning and dreaming and planning and…
I thoroughly enjoyed your post here today (as usual). Even though I’m still sitting at my desk at 7:07 on a Friday night, it’s only because I wanted to catch up with all of the fine folks in the TSA before the week was over and my husband and I went out to play. Yes, he’s reminding me of the time because he’s ready and waiting right now.
Have fun! Wishing you a great and joy filled weekend!
2010-09-10 @ 9:07 pm
I think I’m just like Dr. Adam who commented above. Probably in better shape now then I was when I was 20. There’s a lot more things we learn that can help us with more energy. I remember when I first heard about GNC. Everybody thought it was hogwash back then and today we found that it isn’t he best products to use but at least it has led to a mindset of being healthy. Network marketing products are the best quality (most of them anyway) People realize that making extra income while becoming healthier is a great thing to be able to do. More and more people are enjoying life and living longer and it helps me to do the things I did when I was younger. I still play in basketball tournaments with some pretty good players and don’t even get out of breath and i’m 53. I know I couldn’t ever work so many long hours and be so active without them. Glad to see you guys doing so well. I enjoyed the read. Thanks!
2010-09-11 @ 1:51 pm
I so agree with the sprite of this post. Often times has we get wiser in age we loose site of so of our personal dreams and aspirations. We allow ourselves to become victims of routine. But at the end of the day we need to hold on to that youthful sprite and dreams big.
2010-09-11 @ 6:27 pm
Absolutely Loved this post!!!!
You two were “hockey parents”?! we were too – daughter though. She was captain of the Varsity Girls Hockey Team. Quite honestly, I was kind of glad when our son decided not to play after watching the Varsity Boys in action! Man! how did you guys handle that one? It makes football look like a non-contact sport. LOL
Boy! can I relate to this. I don’t think of my age (the number) because it just doesn’t seem real – I don’t feel that old and certainly don’t act that old LOL – I definitely play and have fun and yes, if you don’t have goals/dreams and aren’t learning, you might as well be dead.
Have a daughter who just start college and a son who’s 12 so time is a moving along…. But hey, “old” is a state of mind and I don’t plan on getting old any time soon.
This was a Great, Uplifting Message! Thanks, Laura
2010-09-12 @ 3:16 pm
Belinda,
Yes, it seems a lot of our kids are experiencing more than we did… which is ok. And it’s great that more of us parents are finding the energy to do as many fun activities and pushing ourselves as much as our kids are… maybe even more at times!
Thanks,
~ Pat and Lorna
2010-09-12 @ 4:03 pm
Robin,
Trust us… they’ll definitely keep you younger. There is no way you can start getting old with kids at home.
No matter when you start a family, it’s always a treasure…
~ Pat and Lorna
2010-09-16 @ 6:17 pm
Great post.! I love this and totally agree. One of my friends just turned 21 and I remember when she was born!!! I especially love the part about always having dreams and goals. Keep up the good work!
2010-09-17 @ 6:52 pm
DeAnna,
Oh yes, they surely do grow up very, very fast. Dreams and goals are what keep us alive!
Thanks,
~ Pat and Lorna
2010-09-16 @ 7:45 pm
First time here, someone RT you on twitter! This post is so much me and my hubby! We have one daughter who is married with 6 kids, 1 who is 22 and works in the theater and stage industry, a 19 year old who just became a daddy last week, and a 17 year old who graduated a year early and is considering going off to NYC next year for school! But I still think of myself as 25 or 30! The good thing is, we started VERY young, so we have plenty of time to LIVE even after our kids are grown and gone! And we can see the light at the end of the tunnel!!!
Bernice
2010-09-17 @ 6:55 pm
Bernice,
Thank you so much for visiting, we truly appreciate it. Wow… you sure have a busy family… and it is so cool that you still feel so young. Must have plenty to live for… dreams, goals and of course your wonderful family.
Thanks,
~ Pat and Lorna
2010-09-18 @ 7:24 pm
Hi Pat & Lorna,
Firstly congrats for such an awesome family! As a mom of three boys, I relate to the getting older quicker although I am still at the other end of the spectrum. Most moms my age have kids heading to college so I love to laugh at their reactions when they find out I have a three year old…..
And he is keeping me young. However, most of all I agree that being in a constant state of curiosity and feeling like a child myself still discovering the wonders of this world is the way to go.
No matter our biological age, the way we truly feel is our state of mind and our attitude to the world! I say that in our business we are all getting younger as we reach our dreams of personal freedom and help others to do the same.
Blessings
Clare
2010-09-29 @ 8:17 pm
Clare,
Thanks so much!! Must be fun and very busy in your household with your three year old.
And it is so true… kids do keep us young… surprisingly enough, no matter how old they are.
Love your perspective on how helping others keeps us young too!
Thanks,
~ Pat and Lorna