Today is my birthday. I had a friend ask me if I had stopped counting the years yet, and if I was just 'hanging out' at 29 or some other number. My answer was a resounding - "no way - every year is a reason to celebrate!"
I didn't always feel this way, I used to keep my birthday quiet, not really celebrating the day, but letting it slip by, hopefully unnoticed by those around me.
But I know now, that each year, in fact each day, is something to acknowledge and commemorate.
I am 54. Awesome, and amazing 54. I know things now that I had no clue about at 24, or even 44. I am more confident, more content, and ever more calm than I was 10, 20 or 30 years ago. I may not be in the best shape of my lifetime, but I am continuing to learn to love the shape I am in - scars and all. I have earned every gray hair on my head...and those lines on my face? Well they tell the story of my life - lines from worrying about those I love and lines from years of laughter and joy. There is the scar I got from falling off my bike, and the slight bump on my nose from breaking it 4 different times. All chiseled in as evidence of a life lived. Evidence of the ups and downs that are a normal part of being alive.
What a privilege it is to grow old. To get to see life through the many lenses of age and time. And I feel I am only just beginning to learn and understand the amazing nuances of life and relationships - why would I ever want to hang out at 29?
Don't get me wrong - 29 is awesome, when you are 29. But when you are 54 - 54 is awesome, and I believe if I am so fortunate as to live to 64, 74 or beyond - that each of those ages will be awesome too.
To embrace change; to live for the opportunity to learn and feel something new; to find purpose and peace in the little things that make life so wonderful - and challenging - and sometimes frustrating - but always, always, so worth the living - this is what birthdays are about, and this is my birthday wish for you.
Peace and Love
-barb
No comments:
Post a Comment