What It Means to Be an Old Soul

I’m not even 21, and yet I feel like I’m an 80-year-old woman. Although this sounds odd, I’ve felt this way for as long as I can remember. In fact, I genuinely believe that I was born in the wrong time. Although my feminist heart abhors the unbelievably sexist social practices of the past (and present), I’ve always felt that my soul belongs in nineteenth-century England. I’ve always wished I could time travel, and see cities like New York and Paris three hundred years ago. I believe that this fascination with the past is because I’m an old soul. 

Since I was a little kid, standing with my mom and dad while they talked to their friends, I have been repeatedly told that I’m an “old soul.” Family members, teachers, and strangers have made this remark to me countless times over the years. In every situation where I’ve been referred to as an old soul, because of the context and tone of the speaker, I assumed it was a compliment. I always thought that people meant that I was uncommonly mature for my age. Apparently, there are several definitions of the phrase “old soul” that branch beyond the idea of being wise beyond your years. According to various internet sources, old souls are usually quirky oddballs who march to the beat of their own drum and do not let modern society dictate what they wear, do, or say. I have to say that this description does fit me well, and here’s why. 

I have always loved musicians, books, and fads of the past. Since before I can remember, my greatest influences were Judy Garland and Julie Andrews, rather than Idina Menzel or Mandy Gonzalez. At just ten years old, I used vinyls to discover “new” artists including The Beatles, Queen, Elvis Presley, Doris Day, The Mamas & The Papas, Janis Joplin, and more. Starting at a young age, I had a deeply rooted fascination with Victorian literature. I was given books of the past including Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl, Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden, and more. I devoured book after book with a ferocity that shocked both my parents and teachers. I read and absorbed as much as I could about certain periods of history. My favorite books to read were always older, usually at least fifty years old. Characters from other eras that I consider to be close friends include Lizzy Bennet (of Pride and Prejudice), Rebecca (of Ivanhoe), Jane Eyre (of Jane Eyre), Katherine Minola (of The Taming of the Shrew), and Esther Greenwood (of The Bell Jar). 

Although I was (and still am) incredibly passionate about reading books and listening to music from the past, when I was younger I sometimes felt that I was at a disadvantage being an old soul. As you can probably imagine, I didn’t really fit in with my peers in my youth. I couldn’t relate to my friends and classmates who all were obsessing over Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Junie B Jones. While they were reading Magic Treehouse, I was daydreaming of prancing around medieval England. Although I liked some kids' literature, my favorite books were no longer popular. While I was rebuilding the secret garden with Mary Lennox, my schoolmates were riding the magic school bus to all sorts of crazy places. While I was running to the thrift store with my nanny to buy ten-cent records, my friends were getting their first iPods to listen to music. It’s safe to say that I was often in my own world. Consequently, I felt ostracized by my peers, although I doubt that they intended to make me feel that way. 

Recently, I have thought about the idea of being an old soul more than ever because of an encounter I had with a psychic. Going into the tarot card reading, I never thought that we would discuss the idea that I’m an old soul. But, I was in for an interesting surprise. During the session, the psychic pronounced that I am an old soul and contrary to my prior belief, that is quite a rare thing. She expanded on my understanding of the term “old soul” by explaining that as an old soul, I have another older soul residing in me. The psychic claimed that the old soul and I work together, and the old soul acts often as the voice inside my head. The psychic stated that my gut instincts are the old soul inside of me urging me to do something. According to the psychic, when my mind (myself) and my heart (the old soul) are not aligned, that is when trouble lurks. 

Although I usually choose not to believe what I’m told by psychics, I felt inclined to believe what I was told after this particular session. After all, what the psychic had told me did explain a lot. And more importantly, my session with the psychic made me truly excited about being an old soul. Being an old soul is now something that I embrace wholeheartedly. From talking to friends and family, I understand that it is one of my defining traits, and the more I have learned to embrace it, the more proud of it I have become. 

I also truly believe that my passion for learning about the past will positively influence my future. As an old soul, my interests have naturally informed my studies in high school and college, and have consequently inspired me both artistically and professionally. Some of my favorite classes that I’ve taken in college have been about historical periods including the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Viking era, Camelot, and more. As an aspiring playwright and fiction writer, my fascination with specific periods of history and the societal practices and hierarchies that ruled centuries ago has inspired me creatively and will inform my writing going forward. As a performer, I feel that my knowledge of history will aid me in character development when I’m in certain productions that are set in different time periods. 

Don’t worry — I’m not going to get the phrase “old soul” tattooed as a tramp stamp. For the first time, I am genuinely proud to be an odd bookworm obsessed with times past. I will continue reading time-travel books for the rest of my days until I can actually travel back in time. I hope to use my interests and abilities as an old soul to produce meaningful artistic works and live a life rich with passion.