Aging is not 'lost youth', but a new stage of opportunity and strength. It's a different stage of life, and if you are going to pretend it's youth, you are going to miss it. You are going to miss the surprises, the possibilities, and the evolution that we are just beginning to know about because there are no role models, no guideposts, and no signs.
I think I was in a bad mood when I wrote that first comment. I agree with you. The only way to make any progress and create a life we enjoy living is to focus on the good and do what we can with what we have left.
The experiences of aging and death of youth are different for everyone, both physically and mentally. But my interpretation of what the writer might be trying to get across, even though aging and general entropy of the body are all of those things too, is that by staring at the horror of what it is will not get you anywhere because devoting the little time you have with your mind to self-negging is not healthy, and will direct your future plans accordingly whether you know it or not. Focusing on the good does not equal lying to yourself, it just means that you’re gonna integrate with whatever thing brings you the most reward in life. You’re trying to identify yourself by goalposts that might never have been healthy for you in the first place, and that’s one of the things that more time in this life will allow you to unearth
This is a nice thought, but not really true of the actual experience of aging. The death of youth is horrendous, and we all mourn it in different ways. Pretending it's ok that our youth is gone is just something we say to make ourselves feel better. Just like those with no money often tell themselves money doesn't matter. Deep down we know we are lying to ourselves.