Age is not a particularly interesting subject. Anyone can get

"Age is not a particularly interesting subject. Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough." - Don Marquis. With these words, Marquis cuts through the romanticization and reverence often bestowed upon old age. He offers a sharp reminder that age is a natural process, one that all living beings must experience if they are fortunate enough to live long enough. But, he cautions, the simple act of aging is not what defines a life. It is what we do in those years, the experiences we gather, the wisdom we gain, and the choices we make that truly matter. Old age, in its essence, is a mere outcome of time passing, and it should not be seen as the culmination of a person’s journey or the most remarkable part of their life.

Consider the life of Leonardo da Vinci, whose genius spanned the fields of art, science, and engineering. Though he lived well into his 60s, it was not his age that made him legendary but the extraordinary contributions he made to humanity. The ideas and inventions he left behind were not the products of old age, but the fruit of a curious mind, a mind that remained ever young in its pursuit of knowledge. Da Vinci’s story reinforces Marquis’s point: aging is a natural process, but it is the intensity and purpose with which we live our years that defines the true worth of our lives.

Marquis’s words also serve as a reminder that we should not be consumed by the fear of aging. It is living, not just existing, that holds true value. The philosopher Socrates, though he was well into his later years when he shaped the minds of the Athenians, did not view his age as a limiting factor. Rather, he embraced it as a tool for reflection and learning, for his wisdom deepened as the years passed. He understood that age was not a subject of fascination but rather a backdrop for the greater drama of life’s pursuit. Socrates did not dwell on his old age but focused on the questions and answers that arose from his continuing journey of intellectual exploration.

In contrast, those who obsess over aging often miss the opportunity to engage fully with life. To live, to explore, to contribute—these are the true measures of a meaningful life. Just as the seasons pass without dwelling on the inevitable decline of the leaves in autumn, so too must we embrace each phase of life with a sense of gratitude and purpose. Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, continued to make contributions to science and education even in the later years of her life. It was not her age that defined her but the passion and curiosity she carried with her until the very end. Ride’s life reminds us that the true essence of a person lies not in the years they accumulate but in the impact they make during that time.

The lesson that emerges from Marquis’s reflection is clear: age should not be the central theme of our lives. It is not what we accumulate in years, but what we accumulate in wisdom, experience, and compassion that counts. Living fully, with purpose, passion, and a commitment to learning, is what gives our years meaning. Age, in itself, is merely the passage of time. It is the choices we make and the impact we leave that truly define us.

Thus, the practical advice we must take from Marquis’s words is this: do not fixate on age, whether in yourself or in others. Instead, focus on the present and the future, seeking growth, purpose, and contribution. Recognize that time will pass regardless of our desires, and it is how we choose to fill those moments with action and intention that makes all the difference. Live with passion, continue to learn, and find ways to serve and connect with others, no matter what stage of life you find yourself in.

In the end, the true value of life does not lie in the number of years lived, but in the depth and quality of the experiences within those years. Age may come for us all, but it is purposeful living that transcends it. Let us not be fixated on the fact of aging, but let us make each day count by living fully and passionately, free from the distractions of time’s passing. For as Don Marquis so eloquently suggests, aging is inevitable, but the pursuit of meaning is a choice.