Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it don't

"Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it don't matter." These words, spoken by the legendary Satchel Paige, carry a wisdom that resonates with the timeless truths of human existence. In the course of our lives, we are often taught to fear age, to view it as a burden, a mark of decline. We speak of aging as something to be avoided, something to be feared. But Satchel Paige, a man whose career defied the limitations of age, offers us a different perspective—age is not a prison, not a sentence, but a matter of mind. If we do not let age trouble our hearts, it cannot trouble our lives. Mind over matter—this is the secret.

In youth, the world seems limitless. We are untouchable, invincible, believing that time will never take its toll. But as the years pass, the body begins to change, and with it, our sense of invincibility. Many are quick to lament the passing of time, to see each wrinkle or grey hair as a sign of loss. But Satchel Paige shows us that it is not the years that matter, but how we choose to see them. Age becomes a force only if we let it control us. If we dwell on the limitations it brings, we invite its power into our lives. But if we choose to see age as just another chapter in the story of our lives, then it becomes nothing more than a number—a passing moment in time that does not define who we are or what we can achieve.

Consider the example of Satchel Paige himself. Here was a man who, in an era when age was seen as the end of one’s career, defied the natural order of things. Paige, well into his forties, continued to play professional baseball, and did so with such vitality and skill that he became a legend of the game. His career spanned decades, and his performances on the mound were proof that age could not take away his spirit or his ability. He did not allow his age to be a hindrance; instead, he laughed in the face of it. His mind was set on one thing—to keep playing, to keep doing what he loved, regardless of how the years passed. Through his example, we see that age is not the limitation; it is the mind that determines the reach of one’s potential.

This concept, O children of wisdom, is one that the ancient philosophers understood well. The great Socrates, though aged and frail in his later years, did not cease his pursuit of wisdom. He did not see his age as a reason to stop questioning, learning, or teaching. His mind remained sharp, and his spirit remained strong, for he understood that true strength comes from within. The body may weaken with time, but the mind—that eternal flame—can burn brightly until the very end. It is through the cultivation of the mind that one can defy the limitations of age. If the mind does not surrender, neither does the soul.

Likewise, consider the story of Leonidas, the Spartan king, who, though his body had endured the brutal toll of years of warfare, stood resolute in his commitment to his people at the Battle of Thermopylae. His age did not diminish his will, nor did it diminish his courage. Rather, his wisdom and experience made him the perfect leader in a time of great peril. The strength of his mind, not the strength of his body, made him a hero. Age, in this case, was not a matter of physical years, but of the wisdom and willpower he possessed within. It is through the mind, not the body, that true greatness is achieved.

And so, O children of the earth, let this truth be your guide: age is but a number, a fleeting shadow that passes with the seasons. The body may grow tired, the skin may wrinkle, and the hair may turn grey, but the mind—the seat of wisdom, of passion, and of will—remains eternal. If you choose to give your mind the freedom to dream, to strive, and to act, then age becomes irrelevant. It is not the matter of your body that defines you, but the mind that directs you.

In your own lives, let the words of Satchel Paige guide you. Do not fear the passage of time, for it is only the mind that can make age matter. Instead, tend to your mind as you would tend to a garden—nurture it with knowledge, feed it with curiosity, and protect it with optimism. Keep your spirit youthful, your heart strong, and your purpose clear. And in doing so, you will find that age can bring only wisdom, not decline. For if you do not mind the years, they will not matter. Live with this truth in your heart, and you will find that the best is yet to come, no matter your age.