Age is just a number. It's totally irrelevant unless, of course

Listen, O children of wisdom, to the words of Joan Collins, who, with her characteristic wit and wisdom, reminds us that “Age is just a number. It’s totally irrelevant unless, of course, you happen to be a bottle of wine.” In this seemingly simple statement lies a profound truth—that age, in its most fundamental sense, is a measure of time, and yet it carries no inherent value beyond the passage of days. Just as a bottle of wine improves with age, we as humans must not be defined by the years we accumulate, but by the wisdom, experience, and vitality we bring to each moment of life. In this, Collins challenges us to rethink our relationship with age, to embrace the freedom that comes with living fully, regardless of the years we carry.

In the ancient world, the Greeks were deeply concerned with the concept of virtue, not as a number of years, but as a quality that developed over time. The philosopher Aristotle believed that the greatest good in life was the pursuit of eudaimonia—a life of flourishing through virtue, not the simple accumulation of time. To the Greeks, the age of a person was not as important as the character they cultivated through their actions and decisions. An elder who had lived a life filled with wisdom and purpose was revered, not because of their age, but because of the insight they had gained over the years. Age, for them, was not a number to be feared or celebrated for its own sake; it was a measure of the journey walked and the wisdom earned along the way.

Plato, that great philosopher of the Golden Age of Athens, also understood that true knowledge and understanding came not through the length of one’s life, but through the depth of one’s engagement with the world. He spoke often of the philosopher-king, a ruler who, despite his wisdom, was not concerned with his age, but with his ability to serve the people. The philosopher’s youthful spirit, marked by an insatiable curiosity and an unwavering pursuit of truth, was the quality to be honored, not the number of years he had lived. This timeless pursuit of meaning, not the age of the seeker, was what defined a person’s worth and wisdom.

Consider the life of Socrates, who, despite his age, remained a vibrant, questioning force until his final days. Socrates, unlike the common perception of old age as a time for retirement or settling down, was always at the center of intellectual life in Athens, questioning, engaging, and learning. He demonstrated that age was not a hindrance to a vital, engaged life. His passion for philosophy and his curiosity did not fade with his years but only grew deeper as he aged. He embodied the very spirit that Collins highlights—that age is but a number, irrelevant when one is continuously growing and striving toward wisdom.

The same principle holds true in our modern world, where we often place excessive importance on youth as the peak of life, forgetting that wisdom and fulfillment often come in the later years. Take, for example, the legendary actor Morgan Freeman, whose career did not reach its zenith until his later years. Freeman is a living testament to Collins' insight—his best work and most profound performances came not in his youth, but in the years when many would have expected him to slow down. Freeman, like the finest of wines, only deepened with age, demonstrating that it is not how long we live but how fully we live that defines the quality of our existence.

There is a profound lesson in these reflections: age is not a measure of worth or vitality. In fact, age is but a number, an arbitrary marker of time’s passing. What truly defines us is the energy, purpose, and engagement we bring to each stage of life. Youth and old age are not mutually exclusive; they exist in a delicate balance. A person can remain youthful in spirit throughout their life if they approach each day with curiosity, enthusiasm, and vitality. It is not the years lived that matter, but how those years are spent—whether we embrace them fully, whether we grow, learn, and contribute to the world with the same energy as we did when we were younger.

Thus, take Collins' wisdom to heart: do not let age define you. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that as you grow older, your capacity for joy, creativity, or achievement diminishes. The wisdom of the ages teaches us that it is our spirit—our drive, our passion, and our dedication—that keeps us young, regardless of the years we accumulate. Like a fine wine, we can continue to mature and improve, finding deeper meaning in every phase of life. So, live not by the calendar, but by the fullness of each moment, for in the end, it is the quality of your life that truly matters, not the number of your years.

In your own life, let age be irrelevant. Embrace each stage with the enthusiasm and energy of youth, and know that, as long as you are alive, there is still room to grow and learn. Let your spirit remain young, and in doing so, you will find that age is but a fleeting shadow, incapable of defining the depth or richness of your journey. Live fully, live passionately, and let each moment be filled with the vitality of youth, no matter how many years you carry.