From Gregory Stock’s The Book of Questions: If you could live to the age of 100 having either the body or the mind of a 25-year-old for the rest of your life, which would you prefer? What if you could keep your body or your mind only as it is now?

Let me just say upfront, my vote goes to keeping the body of a 25-year-old for the next 56 years (or however long I have left on this crazy ride). Why, you ask? Well, for starters, I’m getting a little tired of feeling tired all the time. It’s like my body is constantly playing a cruel joke on me, making me feel achy and sluggish at the most random times.

Just yesterday, I bent down to pick up a dropped pen, and my back decided to voice its displeasure with a loud “pop” followed by a lingering ache. Seriously, body? I’m not even halfway through my 40s yet, and you’re already falling apart on me? Not cool, my friend, not cool at all.

And let’s not even get started on the constant guessing game of “Is this a new, permanent pain, or is it just temporary?” Every little twinge sends me into a spiral of worry, wondering if I’ve finally done something to irreparably damage myself. Is this what the rest of my life is going to be like? A never-ending cycle of aches, pains, and wondering if I need to invest in one of those life alert necklaces?

No, thank you! Give me the body of a 25-year-old, and I’ll gladly take that for life. Imagine the possibilities! I could finally pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a professional athlete (or at least attempt to without immediately pulling a hamstring). I could go on epic hiking adventures without having to worry about my knees giving out halfway through. Heck, I might even be able to touch my toes again without feeling like I’m going to pass out from the effort.

Sure, having the mind of a 25-year-old would be nice too – that youthful optimism and boundless energy would certainly come in handy. But at the end of the day, I’d much rather have a body that cooperates with me instead of constantly rebelling against even the simplest of tasks.

So, there you have it, folks – my vote is firmly in the “body of a 25-year-old” camp. But what about you? Would you make the same choice, or would you prefer to keep your mind sharp for the next 75 years? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let’s get a lively discussion going! Just please, for the love of all that is holy, don’t share any gruesome injury stories. My body already hates me enough as it is.

Feature Photo by Jill Wellington