I remember being a kid and looking at my parents thinking,”THEY ARE OLD!” Not anymore. I now look at teenagers and think, “Glad I’m not their age!” How time makes you think differently.
Age is a wicked, and sometimes amusing thing.
I met Scott shortly after I graduated from high school, and we married a year later. His brother, Terry, and wife Celeste, were 10 years older than me. I always admired them, the way they did things, acted, etc.. and when they got into their 30’s, I decided I couldn’t wait to reach my 30’s. People in their 30’s just seemed to be more settled. They were past the want, want, want stage and knew where they were going, and what they wanted to be. At the age of 31, I divorced Scott. I knew what I wanted, and it was not to be married to him. (He’s not a bad guy, just not good for me.)
My 30’s were spent raising my boys and growing my business. Two accomplishments that I am proud of. Then I turned 40, and THAT HURT! I was sad for a week. I couldn’t believe I was now the age that my parents were when I thought they were old. I still felt like I was 18. I would look at the friends my boys would bring home, and felt like I was as young as they were. (Forgetting I was old enough to be their MOTHER!) Time is cruel.
A few months back I did a story on The Active Life, and I am a firm believer in staying active. It seems to be the key to staying young, and I guess good genes don’t hurt either. I’m not a believer in getting injections and what not to keep a young face. (I say this now, give me 10 years, I might change my mind.) Every gray hair I get and every wrinkle that shows up should be displayed proudly. My Grandmother died in her 100th year and had a flawless complexion. I hope I will be as fortunate as she was. She was a remarkable woman!
40 is the new 20! And I believe it! There is nothing a 20-something can do that I can’t. Well, except reproduce. I have already made my contribution to the “go out and multiply”. Some of the young people I have met I truly hope they don’t help replenish the earth. I am stronger and in better shape than my younger counter parts, and I believe it that comes from age and wisdom. I know the importance of staying strong and healthy, and avoiding the fast food lane.
I am quickly approaching the half century mark, and that is a hard pill to swallow. It seemed like yesterday I was eight years-old, and taking flute lessons. I have realized that was almost 40 years ago. When we are kids we can’t wait to be 10, then 13, 16, 18 and then 21! We wish our lives away. We get in our 40’s and think back to being 10, 13, 16, 18 and the all too powerful 21.
We all look back on our lives and think about things we would have done different. I know I have made my fair share of bad choices and decisions, but if I didn’t make them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Everything happens for a reason, and I am starting to understand some of them. In the end, it is all good.
There is a new chapter that is about to start for me, and the only thing I can say is, “The best is yet to be!”
This is my journey…
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