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Seeing Ourselves Through Younger Eyes

23 1
07.02.2026

“I hope you never lose your sense of wonder” are the opening lyrics to one of my favorite songs, “I hope you dance” by Tia Sillers.1 Music has always been an important part of my life, bringing joy even in my darkest moments.

In fact, I just returned from a wonderful vacation, a music-themed Caribbean cruise that featured blues, rock, and roots music. Multiple musicians and bands, from decades ago when I was a young adult and from more recent discoveries I love, played nonstop for seven amazing days on the deck of a cruise ship as the audience danced under the sun during the day and the stars at night. Wow!

As I lost myself in the music and dancing, I looked around at my fellow cruisers, all about my age, all smiling and singing and laughing. The majority of cruisers were over 50, and about half were over 60. We are aging! But I thought to myself: At this moment, I don’t feel that way. Under the stars, I see myself as a young woman, dancing free and easy. I see myself through younger eyes than others see me.

This is not just me: David Rubin and his........

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