You know the feeling. Staring in the mirror, gently opening that crease at the corner of your eye, stretching a wrinkle near your lip. You roll your shoulders to loosen the tension in your neck and bend forward to unlock your back. The grocery list fades from your eyesight and from your forgetful mind as you push the cart down the aisle. You can almost hear the rusted creaks in your body singing off-tune.

What happens next? We panic. We become anxious. We want that youthful vigor back, and fast! We rush for quick fixes with fillers, potions, and procedures. We do Sudoku or Wordle for a few minutes a day. Maybe we book a deep tissue massage.

When we look back in the mirror, we are still distressed. A Botox syringe removed a wrinkle or two, but besides that, we look pretty much the same. That kind of anguish isn’t very youthful at all.

Except, we’re looking for youth in the wrong place. We look outward, reaching out (with our wallets), when it’s actually much closer, simpler, and less costly than we think.

Legend says that Juan Ponce de León went searching for a magical fountain that reversed aging and cured sickness. He traveled far and wide looking for that Fountain of Youth. But there’s no need to travel many kilometers away. All we have to do is walk a few meters toward the park.

A park? Does the sandbox hide unknown treasures of youth? Perhaps the green grass or leafy trees carry the magic? Not really. It’s not what’s in the park; it’s who’s in the park. The children.

It’s bizarre that we ask adults for youthful remedies when it’s children who release them every day.

Youth is more than physical appearance. It’s the mindset that transforms it. The word I’ve repeated here is youth, so why not simply look to them for inspiration? Because youth isn’t about being wrinkle-free, having fluid muscle joints, or singing the latest from Lady Gaga.

It’s an attitude. And that attitude is what keeps the spirit of youth alive.

I can already hear some people scoffing, “What is she talking about? We can reverse the effects of aging with science.” Hmmmm. But this cosmetic and aesthetic support system constantly needs updating. We spend money and energy on an anxious rush that’s completely contrary to the cause. More importantly, the health risks to our bodies should make us think, like adults this time. Are we so desperate to look young that we make pacts with fake ideals?

Once we start, we lose our genuineness, along with the natural feeling of being true to ourselves. Wrinkles may make us look older, but procedures make us look like we’re running away from authenticity and reality. That sounds pretty unyouthful to me.

So, let’s head to the park on this beautiful sunny day, perfect for abundant child’s play, to learn from the real experts. I rest on a bench, ready to observe. I scan the area, and my spirit lights up!

I see a team of kids kicking a football across the grass, teasing and cheering each other with every shot. My eye lingers on the monkey bars full of hanging arms and entangled legs. I’m charmed by a couple of children picking dandelions for their moms. That trio chasing a butterfly while the dog joyfully tags along makes me laugh! Finally, I gaze into the lovely, messy world of a quiet duo sweetly painting by the maple tree.

Simple, natural, true, beautiful vitality.

A future footballer, adventurer, botanist, veterinarian, or artist, each child stays true to their heart. They’re not self-conscious; they’re focused on what they love.

I can even hear a child pestering their parent with endless questions; you know that feeling! Those “why” questions that test every parent’s patience. They are wonder coming to life. Children want to understand what we take for granted. How does the mama bird build her nest? Who draws clouds in the sky? What does God mean? Why did Mommy and Daddy fall in love? Their curiosity about life fulfills their own projection of life.

Back at the monkey bars, I see freedom, the freedom of movement. Hanging strongly, twisting away, legs playfighting. With shirts rolled up a little without a care. It’s a subtle dare on their bodies for fun. Win or lose, they enjoy it.

Because children love experiences. With that comes the courage to fall. They don’t think ahead to “what if?” They swing high, follow squirrels up trees, and joyride on bicycles. They act on instinct and interest. Not hide away anxious with fear.

Don’t you feel like joining that animated and chaotic playtime now? I know I do.

That child on a swing believes they’re an astronaut flying to the moon. The one chasing a squirrel is a police officer shadowing a bank robber. And there’s Indiana Jones, seeking adventure in the jungle.

They befriend caterpillars, converse with objects, and invent worlds only they can see. In those moments, they’re not escaping reality, but they’re enriching it. Complete attention. Total presence. As adults, we actually pay to learn how to do that again.

A child is freedom. To be, to explore, to discover, to learn, to create. Until we’re welcomed into boxes that limit our behavior and shroud our ability to look out.

Children’s imagination travels wherever they want to go. They set no limits to their creativity. We do. Or we’re taught to do.

Children also express themselves without shame. They laugh when joyful, cry when sad, and punch the air when angry. They’re not embarrassed to feel and show. Their emotions are sincere and direct.

If you need more proof, psychological research shows that adults who maintain childlike curiosity, frolic, and adventure experience reduced stress, boosted creativity, and greater endurance. Play in adulthood isn’t frivolous; it’s rejuvenation. It keeps the mind fresh, the heart open, and the body alive.

These are the true characteristics of youth. It’s not about smooth, unlined skin. It’s the shine from our behavior that glows in our eyes, in our smiles, and in our step.

Of course, you’ll rightly say that children don’t have financial, social, or personal responsibilities. They have the privilege of minimal concerns. But can’t we balance things out a little? If we can invest in procedures that claim to reverse the signs of aging, can’t we build a mindset that does the same?

And before you say it, I am ahead of you. I appreciate those aches in our backs and the stiffness in our knees. Maybe we can’t playfight on the monkey bars, but we can make a motion for change. Because movement isn’t just for children. Movement is vitality, at any age.

Maybe the Fountain of Youth isn’t hiding in a well far away. Maybe it’s inviting us through the laughter of children, the energy of curiosity, the courage to fall, the journey to discover, and the honesty to be ourselves.

Youth remembers the moment. We tend to forget it.

When I play hide-and-seek with my cat, question a guest on my podcast, explore the forest while walking my dogs, or dance to “What a Feeling” alone or with loved ones, I am drinking from the Fountain of Youth. It’s not about serum needles pricking my skin. It’s about living from the heart.

Before I end, a small tangent. The children I portray here are the ones prior to the era of screens and endless scrolling. Today, technology hijacks much of their play. And I hope we can help them rediscover the joy of being young, for their health today and their liveliness tomorrow.

It’s important to remember that it’s the child’s hope, enthusiasm, and movement that vitalize their day. It’s all in the attitude, an attitude that reflects the reality of youth much better than cosmetics can, honestly.

And the Fountain of Youth isn’t about eternal living with a youthful appearance, but about freely living our full years gracefully, in good health, with purpose, and making the most of every moment.

That’s when I look into the mirror… and smile.

Anyone for an afternoon game of tag at the park?