I want to die at a ripe old age, completely close-minded, resistant to change, and stubbornly set in my ways.

Said no one ever.

And yet, that’s the path most of us find ourselves on.

As we grow older, we tend to grow more rigid, both in body and mind. We’ve had plenty of time to institutionalize our preferences and weed out the things we don’t like. Meanwhile, we become a perfect host for Adultitis.

One way to stay young and lively is to continue inviting new experiences, environments, and points of view into our life.

Everyone is searching for a balanced life, the one in which you magically have time to do everything you’ve always wanted and still have time to put your feet up and sip a glass of wine. I’m pretty sure that’s not a real thing, but there’s another kind of balance to consider, which is way more important.

Some thoughts…

If you have a lot of friends on one side of the political spectrum, you should balance it out with at least a few from the other side. Otherwise you’ll find yourself living in an echo chamber.

If you read a lot of non-fiction books, you should also read some comic books or sci-fi or romance novels from time to time. You know, to balance things out.

If your Friday nights are mostly loud and busy with you painting the town red, stay in every so often with some Chinese food for a quiet night reading by the fire.

If you keep a very tidy home, you should seriously consider hosting a Barbarian Spaghetti dinner next week.

If you spend most of your days connected to technology, take a whole day off and spend it at your nearest state or national park.

If you normally eat healthy food, mix in a hot fudge brownie sundae once in a while, otherwise your life will be terrible.

And of course, vice versa to all of the above.

Yes, it is uncomfortable. That’s the point. She who dies most comfortable, and the most set in her ways, is not the winner of this game called Life.

We are meant to learn and grow and change into someone better than who we are today, not turn into predictable clichés. Adultitis would love nothing more than for you to grow ever more one-sided, because it loves binge-watching us churn out stale re-runs day after day.

If you’re not cool with Adultitis’ master plan for you, there’s only one question left to ask: What part of my life could use a little bit more balance right now?