Monday, December 7, 2009

How Old is Your Soul?

I'm 31. I don't mind admitting it. It's young in the grand total of ages.

Sometimes I wonder if my soul isn't older.

I can be old-fashioned in my thinking. Sometimes I feel out-of-touch with my own generation and its wants, its pastimes. I might feel more comfortable among women twice my age, in conversation and connection, rather than those of my own generation. I've gone on and on here before about antiques--anything of age, really--and my love for them.

The main character in my WIP is 82; her kids, all in their fifties, are satisfying to write about. And I'm reading The Bondwoman's Narrative, which was written by a slavewoman sometime around the mid-eighteen hundreds. Her speech and words, the flow of her thinking, draw me in as if we communicated with such prose every day.

I once took a Facebook quiz about my soul's age, and it suggested 42. Part of me thinks even that's too young.

Not that I'd ever know for sure, because I'm 31. Ask my mom.


Do you ever wonder about your soul's age?

39 comments:

Donna M. Kohlstrom said...

Hmmm...interesting question...

I always think young but there's a problem with that because I expect my body to be as young as I think! And...ugh...it thinks it's much older and won't meet the demands of a 30 year old soul! LOL! (Sssh. Don't tell anyone that I'm 63!! LOL!)

Jessica Nelson said...

Yeah, I do. I've had a lot of people tell me I act older, esp. when I was in high school. One girl even told me that I should've been born in a different decade. LOL

I tend to have friends who are older than me too. My mom is the opposite, her friends are always younger. It's an interesting thing. Being an old soul isn't bad at all.
I'd love to read that bondwoman's story. WOW.

Kristen Painter said...

Sometimes my soul feels 16, sometimes it feels 65. Off to check out that bondwoman book. Sounds interesting.

Wendy Paine Miller said...

I know exactly how old my soul is: 68.
;)
~ Wendy

septembermom said...

Some days, I think I'm a 9 year old for sure. Other days, I feel like I'm way older in my soul. Being the oldest in my family, I tended to be "more mature" in the family when it came to leading my siblings around. Since I'm a mom, I think I tend to jump into the "kid soul zone" often. It keeps me young! (By the way, I'm 41...can I be 31 again??) Great post!

CKHB said...

It's my birthday today, so I have to admit that I'm really only thinking about physical age today. I think I need to go back to the gym...

Devon Ellington said...

I've pondered that quite a bit. Often, I feel like a pretty old soul. There's a theory that where you fall in the astrological chart has something to do with how old your soul is, with Aries being the youngest and Pisces (which I am) the oldest). Not sure if I completely agree, but it's interesting.

I always felt older than I was; it took me years to grow into myself. In my mid to late 30's, I finally felt I had caught up!

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

Now I am! I have no clue what it would be though, just that people always say I act older than I am.

Lynnette Labelle said...

Not sure how old my soul is. Guess it depends on how my body's feeling at the time. Right now, I feel young and energized, but a few weeks ago, I could've been in my sixties with all the aches and pains I had. LOL

Lynnette Labelle
http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.com

JLC said...

I think souls are ageless. In fact, I don't think souls are even aware of time. You are you. Perhaps you have a more serious outlook on life, or you have a preference for simpler things, but those are the traits that make you who you are and different from anyone else. :)

I personally have mature times and immature times. Its just how my 36 year old body and brain wants to react to life at that moment.

I hope you feel better soon!! Don't forget the chicken soup.

Rebecca Nazar said...

Hey, I'm literally 42! Welcome to the club, spring chicken.

Melissa Amateis said...

I'm an old soul - but I don't know that I can actually put an age to it. I feel more like I have somehow assimilated the ideals of past generations.

I once wrote a post on being an old soul at my blog. You and I are kindred spirits, Janna!

Cindy R. Wilson said...

That's interesting that your heroine is 82 years old.

I think I felt older when I was younger. Acted older, handled responsibility better, wanted to appear as adult-like as possible. Now that I'm almost 30...I think I'm making up for all those years I acted older than I was.

scarlethue said...

I've wondered about this as well. I've been told several times I am an "old soul," and my dad says that I was 30 when I was 12. I guess I just grew up too fast, with all the family problems we had then.

But now that I'm quickly approaching 30 (yikes) I feel like progression has stopped. I'm not ready for kids, I'm not ready to be "old," and I'm fighting it with all my might. I want to ramble around and travel and be a child with little responsibility. Maybe because I grew up so fast I'm feeling like I should have my childhood now? Ha.

Susan R. Mills said...

I think my soul is younger than me. Does that mean I need to grow up? :)

Patti said...

I agree with Susan. Lots of times I feel younger than I am, hopefully that doesn't mean I'm immature.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

I've never really thought about it in those terms, but I do feel like my soul is older than my body. By maybe 10-15 years.

The MC of my shiny new idea is 65 and I'm already planning to pick my mother's brain to get ideas. But don't tell her I told you that -- she turns 60 on Thursday. :)

Jody Hedlund said...

Oh, wow! You've got me thinking today, Janna! I tend to slide into the deeper thoughts of life, trying to imitate the experienced and wise. But in appearance I can be so vain, more of the silly and frivolous age!

Terri Tiffany said...

I am a young soul:)) But sure wish it would show on me!

Ana said...

Dear Jenna,
That is a wonderful recognition to have and at the same moment to be aware of who we really are underneath it all. Though I don't believe in how age is regarded in this world, I do understand the longevity it measures the life on a and physical plane and our own spiritual experiences in this journey. Truthfully if I were to answer such question in time it would have to be over 500, purely because I know the source of my own soul (consciousness) and how it measures. But there is no time, and all that is treasured are the moments and experiences channelled through.

Analisa said...

Girl that is one deep question.

I think my soul is a little young. Outside folks tell me I am wise and come to me often with problems and the what do you think about this kinda questions. Especially younger women. Who for some reason always befriend me. :) I am 50. But inside I feel so far behind everyone in many ways. Like someone else mentioned I am just really getting to know and grow into the me God always intended.

Nadine said...

I think I'm an older soul. I've always gotten along better with people older than me, and I too often feel out of touch with my generation.

I hope we get to meet one day Janna, we'll get along great!

Heather Sunseri said...

I think it depends on what day you ask me. Today, I feel older than my age. Most of the time I feel much younger.

Joanne said...

No matter what my age, physically and soul-wise, I have two amazing daughters who keep me forever young at heart :)

Ellie Kings said...

I know exactly what you mean. I'm 37 and sometimes feel my soul is older. Sometimes I think I should have been born in the '20s. Drawn to that era, don't know why.

Diane said...

I seem to have an easier time talking to elderly people or 5 year olds. Not sure why... :O)

Anonymous said...

It seems for me, my soul is very old. I know odd facts from the 16-1800's that I have no clue to learning. And my daugh has a very old soul, wise ... Indigo child, maybe...

happy holidays, Janna. x0

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

I still feel like 18. Lately, I've tried to do some things around the house, and my body has reminded me I'm not there.

I can dream.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Katie Ganshert said...

Some days my soul feels 100, and others it feels 5. It really depends. But people have told me for a long time now that I seem older than my age....I hope it's not because of premature wrinkles!

Natalie said...

I think I had an older soul when I was younger (if that makes any sense). I was always more comfortable around adults than my peers when I was in junior high and high school. Now I feel my age. I don't know enough and I'm not smart enough to feel older and I hope I've earned all 29 of my years.

Carla Gade said...

I think I'm an old soul. Maybe 80 or something. That's an interesting thing to think about.

LeSan said...

How old is the universe? That's how old. No, it's not a cop out answer. I really do believe that what makes me what I am has existed since the dawn of creation if creation can even be said to have a dawn. I guess the trick is to get out of our own way most of the time to tap into all that universal history. As with everyone else here I feel differently on different days and often within the same day. I think I prefer cramming as many age groups into my day as possible. Right now I feel 35 having a cup of coffee. In about an hour I plan to be 25 and sling some compost around the garden. We'll see how that works out. LOL

Barbara/myth maker said...

Yes, I've wondered about my soul being older... especially when I was around your age. Now, as I age myself, I wonder if my soul is indeed younger. ;-)

(Like Neil YOung sings: "Ah but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now."

Deb Shucka said...

I've always felt like my soul has been around for centuries. Unfortunately, as I get older, sometimes I just feel like I've been around for centuries.

Great post.

Cassandra Frear said...

WHERE is this soul-age quiz? Do you have a link? I want to take one!

My guess for myself? 65!

My husband would laugh.

Cami said...

I've always thought I had an old soul, but at 33 i think I've finally caught up with it.

Diane Marie Shaw said...

I have a young soul in a 63 year old body that reminds me of that age when I have been sitting too long and my body creaks when I get up. :)
Diane

Amy Sue Nathan said...

You're younger than I thought you were - not by your photo or video - but by your words and wisdom.

So, I'm hoping that's a compliment. It's meant as one.

I'll be 46 in February. I think I was always older than myself as well, but through time and circumstance I'm just about right now.

Matt Rivers said...

I just started wondering how old my soul is. Since I turned 30 everything I knew or believed has been changed in some way or another. In some aspects things have been flipped in a 180 degree direction. I started wondering how old my soul is when I read that a mature soul begins to show itself aorund 35. Suddenly things that I thought were important are not. Anyway, how does one go about discovering what age category their soul is in.