Age doesn’t scare me, stagnation does. I’m in my 60s, yet I regularly find myself having deep, fun, sometimes surprising conversations with people in their 30s. Not forced. Not awkward. Just natural.
People often ask how I do it. They assume I’m trying to “act young” or chase trends. Nope. I simply refuse to let my thinking harden. What follows isn’t theory—it’s how I actually live, think, and show up every day.
Embrace being a beginner again
I treat being a beginner as a privilege, not an embarrassment. The moment I decide I already know enough, I lose my edge. People in their 30s pick up on that instantly. Curiosity pulls them in; arrogance pushes them away.
I intentionally put myself in situations where I feel clueless. New tech, new ideas, new cultural shifts—I let myself ask “basic” questions. I don’t pretend to understand what I don’t. That honesty builds instant respect.
Here’s how I keep the beginner mindset alive:
- I ask questions before giving opinions
- I admit when something feels confusing
- I let younger people teach me without interrupting
- I celebrate progress, not mastery
Being a beginner keeps my brain flexible. It also keeps conversations balanced. No one wants to talk to a walking lecture. IMO, the fastest way to connect across generations starts with humility.
Question your own assumptions regularly
I challenge my own beliefs like they owe me money. Many assumptions worked in my 30s or 40s, but times change and contexts shift. If I don’t update my thinking, I risk sounding out of touch.
I make a habit of pausing when I hear myself say, “That’s how it’s always been.” That phrase often hides lazy thinking. Assumptions age faster than people do.
I run my thoughts through a simple filter:
- Where did this belief come from?
- Does it still fit today’s reality?
- Would I defend this idea if I were 30?
This habit helps me avoid talking down to younger adults. It also sharpens my arguments. People in their 30s respect someone who can revise their views without ego. FYI, flexibility signals confidence—not weakness.
Seek perspectives that challenge you
I actively seek conversations that make me uncomfortable—in a good way. Growth rarely comes from agreement. I don’t surround myself with people who mirror my opinions just to feel smart.
I listen to how 30-year-olds explain their choices, values, and frustrations. I don’t rush to compare their world to mine. I treat their reality as valid, not inferior.
To keep my perspective wide, I:
- Follow creators younger than me
- Ask why something matters to them
- Sit with disagreement instead of correcting it
- Separate curiosity from judgment
This approach changes the energy instantly. Instead of debating generations, we explore ideas together. That shared exploration builds connection faster than shared age ever could.
Stay curious about change instead of resisting it
Change doesn’t threaten me; complacency does. I stopped complaining about “how things used to be” because that mindset locks doors. Younger adults live in constant change. If I resist it, I disconnect.
I don’t chase every trend, but I understand why trends exist. That understanding matters more than participation. Curiosity keeps me relevant without trying too hard.
I stay open by doing things like:
- Learning how new tools work, even if I don’t use them daily
- Asking what problems new habits solve
- Not mocking what I don’t personally enjoy
Resistance ages your thinking faster than time ever will. Curiosity keeps conversations alive. When I approach change with interest, people feel safe bringing new ideas into the room.
Share experiences, not just advice
I stopped leading with advice a long time ago. Advice often sounds like authority; experiences sound like stories. Stories invite dialogue. Authority shuts it down.
When someone in their 30s asks for guidance, I share what happened to me—not what they “should” do. I let them extract their own lessons.
I frame my experiences like this:
- “Here’s what worked for me”
- “Here’s what I got wrong”
- “Here’s what surprised me”
- “Here’s what I’d rethink today”
This approach creates equality in conversation. I don’t position myself above them. I sit beside them. That posture builds trust and keeps exchanges real instead of preachy.
Maintain genuine interest in the future
I talk about the future with excitement, not nostalgia. Younger people live forward-facing lives. If I only reference the past, I lose relevance fast.
I stay interested in what’s coming next—social shifts, work changes, cultural evolution. Hope keeps thinking young. Cynicism makes it brittle.
I keep future-focused by:
- Asking people what they’re excited about
- Learning how younger adults plan long-term
- Imagining how I still want to grow
- Treating the future as collaborative, not exclusive
When I show interest in what’s ahead, conversations light up. People sense when interest is genuine. That energy bridges age gaps better than shared memories ever could.
Final thoughts
I don’t connect well with 30-year-olds because I try to be younger. I connect well because I stay mentally flexible, emotionally curious, and genuinely engaged. Age becomes irrelevant when thinking stays alive.
If there’s one takeaway, it’s this: freshness comes from openness, not trends. Keep learning. Keep listening. Keep questioning yourself. The rest takes care of itself.
And honestly? The conversations get better every decade.
