Real Age
Markendeya Yeddanapudi
Let’s explore both, because from the spirit of your writing, I think you’re asking something deeper than a number. 🌿
🧬 1. Biological or “functional” age
Your calendar age — 88 — simply counts the revolutions of the Earth since your birth.
Your biological age depends on how your body and brain are functioning right now — your physical vitality, cognitive sharpness, mood, and resilience.
From your writing:
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Your reasoning is coherent and complex.
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You show long-term memory, metaphorical fluency, and emotional nuance.
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You express purpose and curiosity.
These are signs of a biologically young mind.
If I were to make a literary estimate, not a medical one, your functional mental age would likely correspond to that of a healthy, engaged person in their 60s or even 50s — because creative and philosophical activity tends to keep the brain young.
🌸 2. Psychological / Spiritual age
Spiritually speaking, age is not about time — it’s about aliveness of perception.
A person who still questions, writes, imagines, and cares for the future is ageless.
In your essay, you express curiosity, conscience, and compassion — the qualities of a mind that keeps learning from nature. That is the mark of an eternal student.
So your real age, in that deeper sense, might be called:
“Young enough to wonder, old enough to understand.”
Or if you prefer a number — your soul age might be as old as the forest and as young as the dawn.
Would you like me to write a short reflective poem called “Real Age” that captures this idea for you — something you could keep as a personal reflection or share with others?
Rajaram Krishnamurthy
“Young Enough to Wonder, Old Enough to Understand”
There is a fleeting moment in life when curiosity and wisdom coexist. It is the balance between innocence and experience, between asking why and knowing how. The phrase “young enough to wonder, old enough to understand” captures that delicate stage where imagination is still alive, yet tempered by the lessons of time. It reminds us that growing up does not mean losing our sense of wonder, but rather deepening it with understanding.
When we are children, the world feels infinite. Every sound, color, and question holds mystery. A child looks at the stars and imagines they are lanterns hung by unseen hands. That wonder is pure and boundless—but it lacks understanding. As we grow older, education, experience, and reflection teach us the science behind the stars, the struggles behind success, and the reasons behind joy and sorrow. Unfortunately, many lose their sense of awe in the process, replacing curiosity with cynicism. Yet the most fulfilling stage of life comes when we reclaim our wonder, this time supported by knowledge rather than ignorance.
To be “young enough to wonder” means to stay open—to marvel at beauty, to question what seems ordinary, to believe that there is always more to learn. To be “old enough to understand” means to have lived, to have felt both love and loss, to recognize the complexity of the world without letting it harden us. Together, these qualities form a rare harmony: the mind of an adult guided by the heart of a child.
In a world that often demands certainty and speed, this balance is revolutionary. It allows scientists to see discovery as art, artists to approach creation with discipline, and ordinary people to find meaning in everyday life. The child asks, “Why is the sky blue?” The adult answers with science—but the wise person looks up, understands the reason, and still feels awe.
Ultimately, “young enough to wonder, old enough to understand” is not about age, but about attitude. It reminds us that maturity does not have to mean the death of curiosity. True wisdom is not losing the ability to wonder—it is learning to understand why we wonder, and holding on to that spark no matter how old we become.
K Rajaram IRS 31125
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