Things that keep us young at heart
P.S. I want to know what keeps YOU young at heart.
I started writing this post in February of 2024. I had an idea then to delve deeper into the concept of being young at heart and what that means to different people. Well, 2024 didn’t quite pan out how I hoped (especially in terms of writing), and so now, almost a year later, with this idea still nudging me, I’m finally giving it some space to marinate. It’s been a while since I poured out a bit more of my heart on the internet, and I hope you’ll come along with me.
Recently my girls and I watched the movie 13 Going on 30, a fun and funny look at what it might be like for a young teen to wake up in a thirty-year old body and have to walk in the shoes of a grown-up, who may or may not be a “good person.” This movie comically portrays how Jenna’s adult life is transformed by the perspective of her younger self. Younger Jenna brings life and success to her older self by embracing the youthful side of herself, and along the way she brings joy and unexpected emotion into the lives of others around her.
My main passion and ultimate goal in writing is to write for young people (in publishing terms for me, that’s the middle grade and young adult markets). I’m also admittedly quite nerdy about my affinity for reading and all that the bookish life entails. When I named this Substack, I was pulling from this idea that it’s okay for adults to not just write for children, but also to read and enjoy children’s literature, and the more I thought about it I realized that these pastimes kept me in touch with the joy of a youthful heart.
This all started, in fact, with a quote that got me thinking about we don’t leave our younger selves behind when we grow older. Those versions of us remain a part of us… you can read that post here if you’d like:
This doesn’t mean I’m anti-aging or wanting to find all the remedies I can to stop time, to look forever young, to live in the past. There’s value, too, in maturity and wisdom, of course. Remaining young at heart is more of a mindset, a heart-set, if you will, to see the world through a lens of wonder, to find things to delight in, to give ourselves permission to have fun, to find enjoyment, as we pursue things that are in some way good, true, & beautiful.
For me, as a Christian, and someone who believes that every good and perfect gift is from above, I’m always thankful that God allows us have joy and find delight in this world. Just being grateful for the little things— like, thank you, God, for a good song, or a beautiful sunset, or a delicious cup of coffee— and the big things like STORY and how so many stories that we humans write, read, and enjoy can show us real truths about things like love and hope and grace. Seeing myself as young at heart is just one more thing to point me back to my creator, to stay awake to wonder and awe, to be thankful for the good, and if possible, to have fun doing it.
At church this week we read Psalm 103: 1-5 and felt joy spring up when I read these words telling me that it’s God “who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” This verse isn’t really talking about being young at heart in the same way I am. I’m taking some liberties here, but I guess for me, it just felt like a nice reminder that youthfulness—at least in some forms— doesn’t have to be something that expires. And there are things in this world (God himself of course included) that renew that youthfulness in us. I guess that’s what I mean when I say that certain things keep me young at heart.
I usually think of the whole “young at heart” thing now in terms of books, and reading books that fall in various kidlit categories. But when I read Why We Love Baseball recently, it hit me that baseball is definitely one of those things that gives me that youthful feeling of delight and wonder as well. A delicious ice cream cone, hearing a song I’ve loved for decades now, going to a high school football game, dipping my toes in the ocean, watching my dog get the zoomies, dressing up in costumes. There are so many things in this life really that do it for me.
What I’m feeling a pull now to ponder what else keeps each of us young at heart. And I decided this is a thread I want to follow here on this newsletter (and because books and reading are still at the heart of this corner of the internet, I will always tie this back to the written word).
So I’d like to start a series of sorts here, where I share stories of what keeps others, what keeps you, young at heart. I think it would be fun to hear from all sorts of people on this, too, so there are no requirements here. You don’t have to be a writer, or a certain age, or an enneagram 7 like me. 😉 This just feels like it could be a fun project, and a way for us to find a little more connection and community here.
If you’d like to share in a sort of interview or feature, please leave a comment or send me a DM or an email, and I will reach out.
xo,
Nicole