"随着年龄的增长，我们没有变好也没有变坏，而是变得更像我们自己。"

The core idea here is pretty simple: as we age, we don't fundamentally change who we are. We just become more of what we've always been. Imagine it like making a pot of stew—at first, the flavors are all over the place, but as it simmers, those flavors meld and intensify. That's us, simmering through life.

This idea has its roots in a lot of philosophical thought about the nature of identity. Take the ancient Greeks, for example. They believed in the concept of the "true self," something that remains constant through all the changes life throws at you. Or think about Shakespeare’s line, "This above all: to thine own self be true." It's all about being authentic, and as we age, that authenticity becomes more pronounced.

For a real-life example, think about your grandparents or an elderly neighbor you know. Maybe they were always pretty thrifty—clipping coupons, saving every penny. As they got older, this trait didn't disappear. In fact, it probably became even more pronounced. Now they're experts at finding deals and living frugally. They didn't fundamentally change; they just became more of who they already were.

So how can you apply this nugget of wisdom? First off, take a good look at yourself right now. What are your core traits? Are you kind, curious, maybe a bit stubborn? Know that these traits will likely get stronger as you age. If there's something you don't like, work on it now. If there's something you love about yourself, lean into it. Nurture those aspects of your personality that make you proud.

Imagine you're at a high school reunion. You see an old friend who was always a bit of a prankster. Even now, decades later, they can't resist pulling a harmless joke on someone. Another friend who was always compassionate is now volunteering at multiple charities. They didn't change; they just grew into their own skin.

Let's make it even more relatable. Picture this: You're chatting with your friend at a coffee shop. She’s always been a bit of a worrier, fretting over little things. Over the years, this trait hasn’t gone away—in fact, she's become even more meticulous, planning everything down to the last detail. On the flip side, you’ve always been the laid-back one, taking things as they come. As you both get older, you notice that you’ve become even more Zen, hardly ever stressing out over things that used to bother you.

You see, we’re all like trees in a way. We start off as saplings, with our branches reaching out in all directions. But as we grow, those branches thicken and become more set in their ways. The tree doesn't turn into something else; it just becomes a bigger, more defined version of itself.

So next time you worry about getting older—don’t. Think of it as becoming more authentically you. Embrace it. And remember, every wrinkle is just a roadmap of your life’s journey, making you more like yourself than ever before.