A few years ago, I got to a point where I realised that the only

In the words of Rob Lowe, “A few years ago, I got to a point where I realised that the only way you can tell someone’s age is how they live their life. The candles on the cake mean absolutely nothing.” These are the words of a man who has walked through the fires of youth, fame, and folly, and emerged wiser, tempered by time but not defeated by it. Lowe, who grew up in the blinding light of Hollywood, speaks here not of numbers or years, but of spirit—that quiet fire within which determines whether one is old or young. His message is an anthem to all who fear the passing of time: that age is not a measure of years, but of vitality, curiosity, and grace.

When we are young, we believe that youth is a possession of the body—something that can be seen in the mirror or measured in candles on a cake. But as life unfolds, we come to see that true youth resides in the heart. A person can be twenty and already weary of life, or seventy and still full of laughter, daring, and dreams. Lowe’s insight, born of experience, reminds us that life’s measure is not in its length, but in the light with which it is lived. The passage of years cannot age a soul that continues to wonder, to forgive, to love, and to grow.

The ancients understood this well. The philosopher Sophocles, when asked late in life how it felt to grow old, replied that age had freed him from “the tyranny of passion” and given him peace. Similarly, Cicero, in his treatise On Old Age, declared that those who cultivate the mind and spirit “will continue to be vigorous to the end of their days.” These men knew, as Rob Lowe reminds us now, that time is not an enemy to be feared, but a teacher to be embraced. For the wise, the years do not steal youth—they refine it. What the body loses in strength, the spirit gains in depth.

Consider the story of Picasso, who in his nineties painted with the same fire that had driven him as a young man. His hands trembled, yet his imagination soared; his art remained bold, unrestrained, alive. The candles on his cake could have filled a room, yet his heart was as young as ever. So too with Rob Lowe, who after decades in the glare of fame—after mistakes, redemption, and renewal—found a strength that comes not from resisting age, but from accepting it with gratitude and purpose. His words are not about denial, but about awakening—the realization that the measure of life lies not in counting years, but in making each one radiant.

The heart that loves, the mind that learns, the soul that serves—these do not grow old. To live with kindness and passion, to find beauty in small things, to remain teachable even when you think you know everything—this is the true alchemy of youth. It cannot be bought, nor preserved by wealth or fame. It is the result of living consciously, of renewing one’s spirit through humility, joy, and purpose. Those who chase eternal youth through vanity lose it; those who seek it through meaning find it everlasting.

The lesson, my child, is this: age gracefully, but live fiercely. Let not the candles on your cake trouble you, for they are but symbols of survival, not limitation. Instead, ask yourself—does your life still burn with curiosity? Do you still wake with gratitude, still dream boldly, still love deeply? If so, you are young beyond measure. For youth is not lost with the passing of time; it is surrendered when one ceases to live fully.

So remember Rob Lowe’s wisdom: years may count the body, but life counts the soul. The number of your days matters far less than the spirit in which you spend them. Walk into each year as a new adventure, not an ending. And when your next birthday comes, do not fear the flame upon the candles—rejoice that you are still the fire that lights them.