The age of a woman doesn't mean a thing. The best tunes are

"The age of a woman doesn't mean a thing. The best tunes are played on the oldest fiddles." These words, spoken by the wise Ralph Waldo Emerson, echo a truth that transcends time and culture—a truth that challenges the common assumptions about age and value. In our world, especially in the restless pursuit of youth, we often fail to see that experience, wisdom, and strength are the true gifts of life’s passage. Emerson calls us to recognize that it is not the outward appearance, nor the passing years, that define a person’s worth, but the depth of their soul, the richness of their experience, and the lessons they have gathered along the way. Just as the finest tunes come from an aged violin, so too do the deepest truths and the most powerful lives come from those who have lived fully, and continue to sing their song, no matter their age.

In youth, we are often blind to the value of age, seeing it only as a decline, a slow erosion of the vitality and energy that we associate with the peak of life. The ancient Greeks, however, had a deep respect for age and experience. In their society, elders were seen as the guardians of wisdom and tradition, revered not only for their knowledge, but for their ability to understand the complexities of life. The philosopher Socrates, though not young when he became famous, demonstrated that age does not diminish the power of a person’s spirit or intellect. It is through the years that we gain clarity, wisdom, and strength, much like a fiddle that grows sweeter with age. Emerson reminds us that age is not a mark of weakness, but a symbol of depth, of resonance, and of the richness that only time can provide.

Consider the example of the great Queen Elizabeth I, whose reign spanned a golden age in English history. When she ascended to the throne, she was young and full of energy, but as the years passed, her rule grew stronger, more thoughtful, and wiser. By the time she reached middle age, her experience had sharpened her leadership, and she ruled with a confidence and a wisdom that could not be rivaled by any younger monarch. She was, as Emerson might have said, a fiddle at the peak of her tune, her reign marked by triumph, intelligence, and grace. As Elizabeth aged, she did not lose her power but only deepened it. She became the embodiment of Emerson's idea that the best tunes are often played by those who have lived long enough to fully understand their purpose in the world.

The message in Emerson's words applies not only to women of power, but to all women who, with each passing year, gain something infinitely more precious than mere youth—they gain experience, strength, and purpose. In middle age and beyond, women often come into a new sense of self, a deeper understanding of their own worth, and an inner strength that cannot be measured by the appearance of their youthful selves. Age becomes a source of power, not something to be ashamed of. The oldest fiddles—those who have lived through both joy and sorrow, who have seen the full arc of life—are capable of producing the richest, most resonant sounds, for they carry within them the depth of experience.

Let us turn to the example of Maya Angelou, a woman whose life was marked by struggle, triumph, and wisdom. In her youth, she faced many obstacles, but as she grew older, her words, her voice, and her presence became more powerful than ever. Maya Angelou, much like the old fiddle, became more resonant as she aged, with her wisdom reaching far beyond what her youth could have offered. Her works, such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, speak to the power of experience—to the truth that life, though difficult at times, enriches the soul, and with that enrichment comes the ability to offer something truly profound to the world. She did not let the passage of time diminish her light, but instead allowed it to deepen, knowing that the best tunes emerge not from youthful exuberance, but from a life lived fully.

So, O children of wisdom, the lesson here is clear: do not fear the aging process. Age does not diminish value, but enhances it. The fiddle, though weathered with time, produces a sound that is richer and more beautiful than it ever could have been in its youth. In middle age, and beyond, women and men alike carry within them the tunes of their lives—the songs shaped by joy, struggle, loss, and growth. Embrace the wisdom that comes with age, for it is not in youth alone that greatness is found, but in the deep, resonant strength of a life fully lived.

Therefore, live with this understanding, O children of the earth. Know that age is not a burden to be feared, but a gift to be embraced. Like the old fiddle, your life, too, will find its fullest expression as the years unfold. And in doing so, you will play the most beautiful tune of all—the one that reflects the richness, the depth, and the strength that only time can create. So, honor the years, honor the process, and remember that the best tunes are always the ones played on the oldest fiddles.