Age appears to be best in four things; old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.

Some things only become themselves with time. Wood that has dried burns clean, wine settles into itself, a friend who has seen you through a decade needs no explaining, and a book still read long after it was written has already survived a lot of testing. The common thread is that age has removed what was unreliable. Newness has its own pleasures, but it has not been tested yet.

Give one old thing your attention this week. Reread a book you loved, or call the friend who knew you before this life. You are not being sentimental; you are spending time on something that has proved it lasts.