If you find yourself thinking "I am pretty sure I was born in the wrong decade," at least two times a day, I think it's safe to say you have a case of the OSB, Old Soul Blues.
Let's take a walk through the mind of an old soul, shall we? There is something so raw and beautiful about falling in love with trends that dates back to the smooth jazz of the 1920's, polka dot fashion statements of the 1950's and the bold flirty lips of the 1960's. There is just something about the past that captivates all your attention, and leaves it there; never to return to the times of did it even happen if it wasn't on Instagram?
As an old soul living in a new world, it can be challenging to stay true to myself on a spiritual level while connecting with other millennials around me. We crave something that is beyond our understanding and beyond what we have experienced in this lifetime. I have never been one to get into trends just for popularity, and I've never been one to feel the need to be validated by a group of people who are looking for validation as well. I often feel that sometimes this leaves me as an outcast, one that doesn't have what it takes to fit into this "new world." The truth is that we won't all fit in. Sometimes we can be seen as outcasts, the strange ones, and quite frankly, there is nothing wrong with that. I have found a few tips and tricks that helps me to stay grounded as an old soul but not too disconnected from my fellow younger souls.
1. Alternate your weekly outings.
There is always some turn-up happening on the weekends and there's always those friends that want to be the first at the door. As an old soul, it's hard to understand why someone would want to be out every weekend, listening to the same music, drinking the same drink, over...and over again. Is it fun to get drunk on cheap alcohol and wake up with thousands of regrets the next morning? I guess I’ll never know. It really is quality over quantity for us. This is where compromise sets in and hopefully, your friends will understand what makes you comfortable. I love to go out and have fun, but I want my outings to be an experience and something that resonates with my spirit most times. Try an old vineyard or maybe a road trip to explore a new city one weekend to satisfy that longing for something new and to connect with your surroundings, then a typical Friday night college party the next!
2. Be all ears.
El DeBarge and Jimi Hendrix on a Tuesday; Fetty Wap and Kanye West on a Wednesday. It's all about balance my friends. I keep several iTunes playlist handy, and they all help for whatever mood I am in. Keep a playlist with your 90's soul/R&B, jazz, old school-hip hop and another with all your 2016 music to 'cut it up' with friends! Also, I've looked for similar beats between some of the classics and modern music to help me appreciate the wide variety even more. Who knows, maybe you could find one of your favorite trap songs' intro built on a sample of Mozart's 'Requiem in D minor'.
3. Do not be afraid to bring new perspective.
Old souls are often seen as wise, calm, collected, and willing to bring a new perspective to the table. As an old soul, we like to think things through and not just jump into situations without analyzing every possible outcome. We tend to be less impulsive than others at our age. With such a detailed outlook on every situation, we are often the ones to give advice to a group of friends, and most times from a perspective that others might not be used to. Sometimes, it can be a bit intimidating to have an opinion that is different from the crowd. The best thing to do with such a unique quality is to embrace it. The world would be a dull and boring (and possibly dangerous) place without fresh ideas and the new perspectives an old soul has to offer. As one who has figuratively experienced everything in life, why not speak out on issues that might need your voice?
4. Embrace your calm spirit.
As an old soul you are literally the epitome of calm, sometimes this can be viewed as 'boring' by younger souls. The issue is, we just find ourselves cool and collected in situations that might be upsetting to younger souls. To others it might seem that we don't care or we are disconnected, but it is just an outlook on life that basically says 'whatever should happen, will happen'. So, why fight an outcome that is already set in stone? This can be both a good and bad trait depending on the individual, sometimes I fear that I can get too laid back in a particular situation, and I have to give myself that extra push to really fight for what I want. Try to balance this calm persona with an extra zest for all the things you love in life. Find a connection with your passions and eventually you will find the perfect balance that will keep you calm but also bring that extra push you need to get the job done.
5. Continue to value deep connections.
Some call it energy. Some call it vibes. Whatever you call it, as an old soul this might mean everything to you. We are often times so detached from materialistic things that young souls are into and would much rather have deep and long-last relationships and heart-felt conversations. Forget the hookup culture; we give ourselves wholly to our friends and partners. Not everyone deserves to take a piece of us with them as they go. Sometimes it can be hard to form relationships because of that surface-level interaction that never seems to go any further. I've found a way to work around this by taking a deep breath and stepping out of the box. Not all connections will be instant, and even if there is no connection, what is there to lose? You have the power to pick and choose what you want to share with others, and the good thing is even if someone doesn't make it to that point where the relationship blossoms, each person has something to offer and a lesson for us in this lifetime. Look at connections as things that are necessary for your growth, whether good or bad. The best life lessons are those we acquire from people, both good and bad, those that we have left behind and those that are still in our lives today. No matter the circumstance, value those relationship and always push to form new ones.
