And how can you use this to help with characterization?

I’m an old soul.  I’ve known this since I was in grade school…since I could conceptualize what a soul was…or at least that’s what I recall.  I related with my older peers better than I would ones my own age and always felt a gap with classmates.  I had many acquaintances that I befriended, but would always be slightly disappointed when they didn’t ‘get’ me.  This continued on throughout high school and still happens even now.  I’ve come to peace with the fact that many people will never ‘get’ me, but on different levels, I connect with almost every person I come in contact with on a superficial level…not a true friend level, but a kindness level that allows me to care without knowing every detail of their lives.  I do, however, feel a general responsibility for everyone in my life.   Like if they come to me for advice, I  look at the whole picture and hope that I advise them wisely.  “Wise beyond my years” was the term I heard the most…and that was from the elderly peers that I had contact with.  And of course, I knew how to suck up pretty good, so any elderly person pretty much loved me.

I know that the terminology for ‘old soul’ is supposed to be related to reincarnation,  but I’m not sure that’s why people end up being old souls or not.  I think it’s something you’re born with.  Much like others are born to be great athletes or others mathematicians…some people are born to be old. And they instill traditions from the past onto others naturally throughout their actions and conversations sometimes without being environmentally conditioned to do so.  Which I guess speaks loudly of some kind of past life interference, but who knows right?

I know that I am both an introvert and an extrovert.  I love being around people, yet I love being alone.  I need the balance of both in order to see the whole spectrum though.  I also find that I love historic facts…not textbook history, but old artifacts and their past history.  Family heirlooms and how these items came to the families they were past down to and what that means.  I respect everything.  I love listening to Sam Cooke, even though that’s probably not a trait of an old soul exactly…I think listening to soul music has got to be somewhere up there.