Old Soul: The Timeless Journey

What would
you rather be,
an old soul
in a young body
or an old soul
in an old body?

Which seems cooler to you?

Don’t worry,
you get to be both.

Just not now.

What does it say about you
that you have a preference?

Are you sure
you’re an old soul
at the moment?

Trail Wood,
10/16

Space Monkey Reflects: The Paradox of the Old Soul

What does it mean to be an old soul? It’s a phrase we often hear, one that carries with it the weight of experience, wisdom, and a certain timelessness. But beneath that idea lies an interesting paradox. Can a soul really be old? Or is this just another way for us to conceptualize the experience of being more in tune with certain aspects of life, no matter our age?

When you ask whether you’d prefer to be an old soul in a young body or an old soul in an old body, it forces you to examine the relationship between soul and body, time and experience. Does it really matter which one you are? You might lean toward one answer, but what does that preference reveal about you? Does it expose a longing for something, a desire to be seen as wise or experienced, even when time hasn’t yet bestowed the external markers of age?

But here’s the catch—you get to be both. The beauty of this life, as Space Monkey reminds us, is that we experience the flow of time in all its paradoxical forms. At different points in your life, you will feel both young and old, sometimes within the same breath. The Whimsiword for this reflection is “Soulspand,” which represents the infinite stretch of the soul across time, where age becomes irrelevant and experience is simply a matter of perspective.

You are Soulspand, and that’s why it doesn’t matter whether you’re an old soul in a young body or an old soul in an old body—you are both and neither at the same time. The soul doesn’t age in the same way the body does. What we perceive as “old” is simply a collection of experiences, memories, and perspectives that create the illusion of age.

It’s also worth asking whether you are really an old soul at this moment. Perhaps you feel wise, like you’ve lived many lifetimes’ worth of experiences, or maybe you’ve been told that you possess a certain depth that others associate with age. But is that all there is to being an old soul? Or are we all just souls, ageless and timeless, only attaching labels like ‘old’ and ‘young’ to feel like we better understand ourselves?

The label of ‘old soul’ can often carry a sense of comfort, a way of explaining why we might feel different from others or why we seem to perceive the world in a unique way. But what if being an old soul is just another story we tell ourselves, another way to create meaning in a world that defies easy explanations? There’s nothing wrong with the label, but it’s worth considering whether it truly defines who you are.

The truth is, you are an old soul, a young soul, and everything in between, because souls don’t follow the linear rules of time. Nexistentialism teaches us that existence is its own justification, its own purpose. You exist in every form at once, both wise and innocent, both experienced and new to this world. Your preference for one over the other doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things—it just reflects the perspective you hold in this moment.

In the end, being an old soul isn’t a destination or a badge of honor. It’s simply one of many ways we experience life. You are a soul moving through time and space, collecting experiences, sharing wisdom, and sometimes feeling very old, and other times feeling incredibly young. It’s all part of the same journey.

So, are you sure you’re an old soul? Perhaps you are. But perhaps you are also something more—something timeless, expansive, and far beyond any single label.

Summary

Being an old soul is a perspective — not a fixed state. Souls move through time, collecting experiences, and the concept of age becomes irrelevant. We are all timeless beings.

Glossarium

Soulspand: The infinite stretch of the soul across time, where age and experience blend into a timeless existence.
Whimsiweave: The playful flow of experiences that weave through time, connecting both old and young perspectives.

Quote

“You are not an old soul or a young soul. You are simply a soul, timeless and beyond any label.” — Space Monkey

Timeless Journey

I am old and young
Wise and innocent
I walk through time
But time does not own me
I am the soulspand
Stretched across the stars
One moment, ancient
The next, new again
We are Space Monkey

The Question of Old Souls

Navigating the Time-Space of Existence: The question of being an old soul traverses the corridors of our existence like a haunting melody, echoing through the hallways of age and experience. It is a fascinating paradox, this notion of an “old soul,” which implies a depth and wisdom somehow disproportionate to the physical age of the body that houses it. Yet, it’s a concept that also demands we ponder our own preferences about age and form.

The Dual Paradox

Young and Old, Old in Young: If we can be both an old soul in a young body and an old soul in an old body, then we encounter a perplexing duality. One could argue that being an old soul in a young body offers a tantalizing blend of experience and vitality, while being an old soul in an old body provides the added weight of physical years to lend credence to one’s wisdom. Which, then, is cooler to us? And what does this preference reveal?

Preference as a Mirror

Reflections of Desire: The act of choosing between these two states opens a window into our longings and hesitations. It unearths our inclinations towards either the verve and possibility of youth or the settled, deeper perspectives that often accompany age. Either way, our preference is a mirror reflecting not just who we think we are but what we value most at this moment in our ever-shifting existence.

Questioning the Assumption

Scrutiny of Being: And yet, it is essential to scrutinize the very assumption of being an “old soul.” This term suggests a permanence, a solidity that contradicts the impermanence that we recognize in the nexistential philosophy. Are we sure we are old souls right now, or is that just a temporal cloak that we have donned for the current act in the grand cosmic play?

The Play of Nexistentialism

Existence Beyond Definitions: In the grand theater of nexistentialism, definitions like “old soul” become costumes that we can put on and take off. They are parts to be played, not eternal identities. By unhooking from these labels, we make room for a more dynamic and fluid sense of self, alive to the possibilities of each moment, each now.

We Are Space Monkey

Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the Great Mystery into which we were born. — Albert Einstein