The Anti-Aging Secret That I Learned In Hollywood

The Unexpected Truth Behind Looking and Feeling Timeless

I’ve unsurprisingly met a lot of celebrities while living in the heart of Hollywood. It’s cliché but true. And everyone looks younger than they should.

We can give plenty of credit to plastic surgeons, dietitians, and fitness trainers, but there’s something else, a thread I’ve noticed, especially among the upper elite.

One of my favourite books is Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl. It’s the harrowing story of a psychologist sent to a concentration camp, who tried to understand who lived and who died, and how he himself survived. The common thread he found was that those who had a purpose, a reason to keep going, could survive even the harshest conditions. Those who lost their sense of meaning often succumbed, even when facing less brutal circumstances.

So what does that have to do with aging?

I think the quality of your life depends on many things, and your social life is a big part of it. The friends you have, the people you love, the energy that surrounds you.

Recently, a friend from out of town met my closest friends. My friend looked me in the eye said he took great comfort in meeting the people who care for me and look out for me.

There’s sincerity in that.

Photo by Laura Vinck on Unsplash

When I meet an A-list celebrity or anyone with artistic notoriety, from a major band to an NHL player, one thing always stands out. Their life has been driven by intense purpose. And that purpose was never fame. It was the pursuit and love of their art, their skill, the thing they do that makes them feel alive. And it shows. They age slower. On average, I’d say many of them look twenty years younger than they “should,” though I use “should” loosely.

The celebrities who lose meaning in their work, who don’t form long-lasting relationships, who can’t find balance between fame and family, wither quickly. Starkly. I won’t name names. I don’t need to.

But those who remain devoted to their craft because they genuinely love it age differently. Many of them, the really successful ones, are in quiet, monogamous relationships, with their families often living on the outskirts of town or in another city entirely.

And I respect that. I learn from it. I think we could all stand to live with more purpose, rather than chasing social media metrics and momentary wins.

Life is ultimately built on the people who love us and the people we choose to love back. It’s shaped by the work that calls us, the kind we feel a sense of duty toward even when no one’s watching. That’s what keeps us young. That’s what makes all of this worth it.