Pursuing Meaning with Passion

 They say you know you’re getting older when your back goes out more than you do.

I hope you laughed, not everyone gets the gift of growing old. Yet in the rush of everyday life, we sometimes forget this simple truth.

I’m reminded of a man I met years ago at a community gathering. He was in his early eighties, sharp as ever, with a warm smile that drew people in. Over coffee, he told me about his younger brother, full of life, talented, and adventurous, who passed away in his thirties. “Every birthday I’ve had since then,” he said quietly, “has been a gift my brother never got. I’ve tried to live enough life for both of us.”

That conversation stayed with me. It made me realize that every wrinkle, every laugh line, every year we add is a sign that we’re still here, still living, still loving, still learning.

We may not run as fast as we once did, and our reflection may surprise us now and then, but these changes are not losses, they’re reminders of time’s generosity.

So today, let’s remember aging isn’t something to fear or hide from. It’s a privilege denied to many. The years we carry are not a burden, but a badge of honour for a life still unfolding.

Live it fully. Wear your age proudly. It’s proof you’re one of the lucky ones.

My friend Larry proved this at the grocery store. He was leaning on his cart, surveying the cookie aisle like a general plotting a military campaign. A young clerk wandered over and asked, “Sir, can I help you find something?”

Without missing a beat, Harold said, “Yes. The Oreos. And my twenties. If you see them, let me know.”

The kid laughed, but Harold just smiled. “I’m 80,” he said. “Every wrinkle, every gray hair, every little ache—those are souvenirs from a life I’m lucky to still be living. You learn after a while that it’s not the years that matter, it’s what you do with them.”

That’s the real secret: life doesn’t lose its flavor with age, it just asks you to season it differently. Pursuing meaning with passion isn’t reserved for the young. In fact, the longer you’ve lived, the more you know exactly what matters.

Passion at 25 might look like climbing mountains or chasing promotions. Passion at 70 might mean mentoring someone, traveling to places you’ve always dreamed of, volunteering for a cause close to your heart, or simply making time to watch the sunrise with someone you love.

The point isn’t to move faster, it’s to move with purpose. To throw yourself into the things that light you up inside.

So, buy the cookies. Tell the stories. Wear the wrinkles with pride. Every year you’re given is another chance to live with meaning, laugh out loud, and love fiercely. Growing older isn’t losing your youth, it’s winning the time to savor what truly matters.

To grow old is a privilege, not a burden. Each wrinkle is a chapter, each gray hair a thread in the tapestry of a life lived fully. And the greatest gift we can give ourselves in these years is not simply to live longer, but to live with purpose and joy.

I once knew a man who, at 78, began volunteering at a local animal shelter. He had never owned a pet in his life, yet every morning he showed up, feeding, cleaning, and sitting quietly with animals that needed comfort. “They give me more than I give them,” he told me, his eyes shining. “This is the most alive I’ve felt in decades.”

Meaning doesn’t come from chasing youth, it comes from chasing what matters to you. Whether it’s painting, mentoring, gardening, or helping others, passion fuels the spirit, and the spirit keeps the body moving.

Life isn’t winding down; it’s opening up to new chapters. Your purpose may shift, your passions may evolve, but the privilege of growing old gives you the wisdom, freedom, and courage to embrace them fully.

So, ask yourself, not “How much time do I have left?”, but “What will I do with the time I have?”