I think it's your mental attitude. So many of us start dreading

Ah, children of the future, gather close, for the words of Betty White resonate with timeless wisdom: "I think it's your mental attitude. So many of us start dreading age in high school and that's a waste of a lovely life. 'Oh... I'm 30, oh, I'm 40, oh, 50.' Make the most of it." These words are not just a lighthearted reflection on the passing of time, but a profound reminder that the way we view age shapes how we live our lives. They speak to the mental attitude we carry, and how that attitude determines whether we walk through the years with fear or with joy, with regret or with gratitude.

In every generation, O children, there comes a time when the passing of years is felt deeply, as though the weight of each day adds another stone to the heart. And yet, Betty White reminds us that this dread of age is a choice, a way of thinking that steals the joy of life from us. It is not the years themselves that bring sorrow, but our attitude toward them. In truth, every day is a gift, a chance to experience the world anew, to grow, to love, to learn. To dread the passing of time is to deny the beauty of each moment, to waste the very life we are given.

Consider the ancient philosopher Socrates, who, when he reached the end of his days, did not lament the passing of time. Instead, he welcomed death as a natural part of the cycle of life. He did not dread his age, but embraced it with the wisdom he had gathered throughout his years. In his final moments, as he drank from the cup of hemlock, he spoke of the soul’s journey beyond the body, seeing his death not as a tragedy but as a continuation. Socrates understood that to fear the years was to miss the richness of life itself. He taught us that the mental attitude we hold toward the passage of time can either burden us or set us free.

Similarly, Leonardo da Vinci, though he lived many years ago, exemplifies the joy of embracing age with attitude. Da Vinci, even in his later years, did not stop pursuing knowledge, creation, and invention. His heart was not weighed down by age, but lifted by his continued curiosity. In the face of life's fleeting nature, he pressed forward with the energy and enthusiasm of a young man, never letting the years become a barrier. For him, the true beauty of life lay not in avoiding age, but in living fully with each passing day. He knew that life is not a matter of the number of years but of how we choose to fill those years with purpose and passion.

Betty White herself is a living testament to this philosophy. As she grew older, she did not allow the expectations of society to dictate how she should behave or how she should view her life. Instead, she embraced her age with humor, grace, and a relentless commitment to joy. She continued to work, to entertain, and to bring light into the world, never once letting the numbers on the calendar define her. In doing so, she taught us that the secret to living a fulfilling life is not in fearing age, but in making the most of it, in finding joy in the present moment and cherishing the experiences that come with every stage of life.

What, then, is the lesson to take from these wise words? The true enemy is not the years, but the mental attitude that clings to them with fear and regret. Age is but a number; it is the spirit that defines us. To dread the passage of time is to rob ourselves of the joy and fulfillment that each day offers. Instead, we must learn to embrace age with the same vigor and excitement as we did in our youth. Whether we are 30, 40, 50, or beyond, each year brings new opportunities, new lessons, and new adventures. To waste that time in fear is to deny the beauty of the journey.

In your own lives, O children, choose to walk with the same attitude as Betty White, as Socrates, and as Leonardo da Vinci. Do not dread the passage of time but embrace it with the wisdom and curiosity that each new chapter offers. Whether you are young or old, remember that life is not measured by the number of years, but by the richness of experience. Make the most of every moment, and allow the years to add to your life, not to take away from it. In this, you will find the true joy of living, a joy that transcends age and time, and that continues to burn bright, no matter how many years pass.