Old Souls, Young Souls ... and Why I Was Older at Eighteen Than I Am Today
People sometimes tell me that I am an old soul.
Usually because I enjoy reflecting on life, stories, symbols, and the curious twists and turns of the human mind.
But recently, someone told me the exact opposite.
"I think you're actually more of a young soul."
And you know what?
The longer I think about it, the less certain I am that either of us is completely right.
The idea of old and young souls comes from spiritual traditions that believe a soul journeys through many lifetimes.
According to this view, a young soul wants to experience life.
An old soul wants to understand it.
Young soul: adventure, discovery, experience, exploration.
Old soul: meaning, depth, insight, and connection.
At least, that's what the theory says. Because honestly?
I've met young people with a wisdom that some eighty-year-olds are still searching for.
And I've met elderly people arguing about things that made me think: "Seriously? This is what we're spending our precious time on?"
So perhaps it's all a little more complicated than that.
When I look back at my own life, I was probably much older at eighteen than I am now.
Not in years.
But in weight.
I carried responsibilities that were never meant for someone my age.
I worried. I analyzed.
I felt responsible for almost everyone and everything around me.
And now?
Now I'm much closer to fifty than to eighteen. And honestly?
I often feel younger than I did back then.
I laugh more. I play more.
I dare to be a little silly.
I enjoy the small things that I probably wouldn't even have noticed years ago.
A cup of coffee. An unexpected rainbow. A meaningful conversation.
A story that suddenly takes a completely different turn than expected.
Perhaps that's where we make our biggest mistake.
We assume that old souls become more serious with age.
But what if the opposite is true?
What if old souls don't become heavier ... but lighter?
Not because they know less about life.But because they've learned that they no longer have to carry the whole world on their shoulders.
Maybe wisdom isn't about collecting answers. Maybe wisdom is about rediscovering wonder.
Because in the end, a young soul wants to understand the world.
But an old soul has learned to admire it all over again.