“How Many Years Have You Created?” — A New Way to See Aging

This morning, I had a realization that stopped me in my tracks.

In Romanian, the common way to ask someone’s age is “Câți ani ai făcut?”—which literally translates to: “How many years have you created?”

Not “How old are you? ”Not “How many years have passed?” But how many years you’ve created.

It’s a subtle shift in language—but a profound one. This phrase doesn’t imply deterioration or decline. Instead, it implies authorship. It suggests that your age isn’t something that happens to you passively. It’s something you build—like a story, a legacy, or a life’s work.

Why Language Matters in Longevity

In English-speaking cultures, aging is often treated as a countdown clock. Every birthday is a tick closer to “old,” a word that carries its own cultural baggage—slowness, irrelevance, frailty.

But what if we thought of aging not as decline, but as creation?

What if every year you live is another brushstroke on your canvas, another chapter in your book?

Cultures that use this kind of framing—whether consciously or not—tend to respect their elders more deeply. In many Eastern societies, for example, age is associated with wisdom, dignity, and honored status. In Japan, elders are often considered national treasures. In Indigenous traditions, older members are storytellers and knowledge-keepers.

Compare that to modern Western societies, where aging is something to be “fought,” “reversed,” or “denied.” The anti-aging industry thrives because we’re taught to view age as damage rather than as depth.

Different Language, Shared Wisdom

The Romanian view isn’t unique.

In Vietnamese, when asking someone’s age respectfully, the question is:“Bác năm nay bao nhiêu tuổi rồi?” Literally: “How many years have you created this year?”

This translation may not be word-for-word, but the spirit is the same. You have created those years—they are yours. They didn’t just happen to you; they are the result of your living. Each year is a conscious accumulation, not a passive loss.  Aging is an act of creation.

Rewriting the Narrative

At The Longevity Doctor®, we embrace the science of healthy aging—but we also care deeply about how you think about age. Because mindset matters. Studies have shown that people who view aging positively create, on average, 7.5 more healthy years than those with negative age stereotypes.

So today, I challenge you to try a different question. Instead of asking: “How old am I?” Ask yourself: “How many years have I created?”

Think of what you’ve built: the relationships, the resilience, the memories, the knowledge. Think of the you you’ve become, and the person you’re still shaping.

Aging isn’t just something you endure—it’s something you author.

And that makes every year a creative act.

I’d love to hear your reflections—how many years have you created? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment box below.

To Your Good Health,

The Longevity Doctor®