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Dalton
Roberts |
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Sophia Loren is still stunningly beautiful and it has little to do with the makeup she uses or the clothes she wears. It’s her attitude. The only fountain of youth we will ever find is in our mind. That is exactly what Sophia said: “There is a fountain of youth. It is in your mind, your talents and the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love.” I call this “Sophia Loren’s three point plan for youth and longevity.” I have lived long enough to know that it works. Sadly, I have seen those who don’t practice it bite the dust much too early. The mind operates in a muscle called the brain. It is not some inert, computer that operates in some precise and predictable way. It is rather a field of opportunity for thought. I am amazed at the people who say something like this to me: “I enjoy most of your columns, I disagree with some of them.” Reading anything to see where you agree or disagree is a waste of precious brainpower. It is living your life in the judgment gear. Shift into your reflection gear and read to see what facts and thoughts stimulate your own mind. Make it a game to see how many ways you can look at the things you hear and read. Years ago I picked up the thought, “Is there another way to look at this?” I soon discovered there is not just another way to look at something but an amazing number of ways. Thinking there are only one or two ways to look at something afflicts us with cultural blindness. I recently saw a poster written by Wade Davis that says, “The world into which you were born is just one model of reality. Other cultures are not failed attempts at being you., they are unique manifestations of the human spirit.” It doesn’t really matter whether or not we agree or disagree with some aspect of a culture. It matters that we become aware of it and think through all the advantages and disadvantages we can find in it. Our brain needs the exercise. So does our soul. This is the experience and the exercise Sophia Loren calls the fountain of youth. Notice the second part of her stay-young program: “(The) fountain of youth is in …your talents.” Above all things in this life pay attention to your talents. Don’t downplay their importance because you have decided there is no way to make a living with them. Talents aren’t giving for the sole purpose of making a living. They are also given to make you young. When my father retired, he longed to create beautiful things on his wood lathe. One day I went to the basement and he was at his lathe. He didn’t realize I was in the room. Doing what he loved gave his entire energy field a radiance I could see. I will never forget how young and vibrant he looked that day at his lathe when he was eighty years old. A smothered talent will kill you. It will eat a hole in your stomach trying to get out. Unless we find time to do what we love we will find our earth-time cut short. The third part of Sophia’s plan to keep you young, happy and healthy is to turn your creativity loose in the lives of people you love. One of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen was a man dying in a roomful of people whose lives he had creatively gifted with his kindness and skillful love. Everyone in that room thanked him for giving them the confidence and support they needed to become happy and successful. You may never be as beautiful as Sophia but listen to her and you will become a more young and beautiful you.
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