The late, great Country Western singer, Toby Keith met legendary actor, Clint Eastwood at a charity golf tournament in Pebble Beach, California, in 2018. At the time, Eastwood was working on his film The Mule. The story goes that Toby Keith was surprised by the energy Clint Eastwood displayed despite being eighty-eight years old at the time. When Keith asked him how he was able to be so energetic, Eastwood replied, “I don’t let the old man in.”

Toby Keith captured that one line in a song that turned out to be one of his biggest hits. Impressed, Eastwood featured, “Don’t Let The Old Man In,” at the end of the film he was working on when he met Toby Keith.

And I knew all of my life,
That someday it would end.
Get up and go outside,

Don’t let the old man in.

Many moons I have lived,
My body’s weathered and worn.
Ask yourself how old would you be,
If you didn’t know the day you were born.

– Don’t let the Old Man In – Toby Keith

A ballad about a man dealing with his increasing age. I can relate to that song, I’m getting up there in years, I know I’m young compared to some, but I really am old compared to most. But whether I like it or not, the old man is creeping in. I can try to fight it – push back against it, but eventually the old man’s gonna win. At least that is what I can hope for, that the old man eventually wins. Anything sooner than that will be too young to die.

I do hope when I head to the promised land someday, that I am an old, broken down, busted up man. The idea of aging gracefully does not particularly inspire me. Just like that lyric in the song, I want to be “weathered and worn.”

Oftentimes, you hear people say age is just a number. Well, that’s true I guess, but somebody needs to tell my knees that. The old man is creeping in even at sixty- one years of age, and he’s going to get a deeper grip on my life physically as time goes by and there’s not much I can do to prevent it. I can slow it down through a healthy lifestyle, but even still the old man will win.

Not letting the old man in is more of a state of mind because some things that happened to us physically are no fault of our own.

I love what Mark Twain said about age. “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”

As I age, I take life much less seriously because I have learned how few things in life really are serious. Fewer things matter to me the older I get.

One of the benefits of growing old is that you can join the AARP (American Association of Retired People.) There’s a few perks by joining the organization. You can get discounts on flights, meals at certain restaurants, movie tickets, and museums.

I receive a magazine every month from the AARP full of articles on how to find happiness, health, and hope as I age. They even provide remedies on how to ease aching feet and to combat snoring. So, you bet, some good stuff!

My most recent magazine had a picture of Jon Bon Jovi on the front of it. Yeah, Jon “Living On A Prayer” Bon Jovi. The guy is sixty-two years old, a year older than me, and he looks like he could be my little brother. A full head of hair with the perfect gray tint. His teeth are all present, straight, and pearly white. I think he brushes them with lightning bolts.

He is one good looking dude, but the old man has crept in on him as well. He’s had health issues, he nearly lost his singing voice a few years ago, but through throat surgery he was able to bounce back.

He made a comment in the article that I found inspiring. He said, “Don’t try to be who you used to be. I have no desire to be that kid anymore. I am still a hollow man, and I tell God to fill me up. I’m a vessel. What do you want me to say? And how to say it?”

I have no clue what Jon Bon Jovi believes, and it’s really none of my business. But it appears he has faith in God and wants to be used by Him. God is always open for business. I think part of not letting the old man in for me is to remain an open vessel, asking God what He has for me next.

Unfortunately, I don’t look like Jon Bon Jovi, but we think alike.

The old man is coming for us all and there is nothing we can do about it. You still may be years away from being considered old, but if you’re lucky enough – you will get to pick a fight with that old man one day and keep him from getting in.

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Todd Howey is a columnist for BrownwoodNews.com whose articles appear on Fridays. Email comments to [email protected].