THOUGHTS ON MY BIRTHDAY!!
I don’t know who said it, but it’s true. One day you wake up to find time staring you in the face.
When my mom was in her fifties, she told me she couldn’t believe she was so old. She didn’t feel old. She said she didn’t feel any differently than she did when she was in her twenties; yet she had a different body and an older face staring back at her from the mirror. “Just wait Kathie,” she said, “when you’re my age, you’ll look in the mirror one day and see an older woman looking back at you and wonder where the young you went; you’ll find your body energy gives out before your mind energy does and reminds you that you can’t “hang” like you did before; you have hairs in places where hair never grew before; but the best part is, you have learned to love yourself at this age and don’t care what people think of you, and you have nothing to prove. Wait – you will know what I mean when you get this age”!
I now understand what my mom meant. With each birthday . . . the older I get the age is “just a number” and the younger old feels. However, at 60 years of age (this birthday for me) I KNOW more than FEEL that life is getting shorter for me. I feel great, am in better health than ever before, love where I am in my life and for me, being OLD is still years away. So why does the sound of “You’re 60 years old” SOUND so “old” to me? Why do I feel like a woman in her 30’s in many ways? I still can run circles around some of my friends in work and personal life. I can walk miles and not complain about arthritis in my knees; I can laugh until I pee (yes – a sign of having an older bladder but just part of the “fun of old age” and laughter combined). I still wear jeans and slightly sexy outfits from time to time, but hide the veins that are not so attractive and other flappy parts. I’ll NEVER cut-and-perm my hair like a poodle. Joan Collins says, “Age only matters if your wine.” On that same note, I like to think . . . like fine wine . . . I’m aging well. And in my mind I am aging well.
I love being older and having less to prove to others and myself. I love the fact I get more respect and people think I am wiser because of my age. I love that I am still around to enjoy my birthdays when I have friends who were not so privileged to experience the same. I love that God has so much more meaning to me now and that I don’t have to know what faith and grace is – experience has proven them in my life.
Life at 60 is awesome and amazing. The adventures of my life to this date have been incredible. The adventures yet to experience I am anticipating to be even more outstanding. I am here for a reason. I am here because I have purpose. I am here because I have a passion to love, share and to help heal those who want to receive that from me. I am an awesome mother to my daughter even when I am not perfect at it – because she is my heart, my biggest love, and my undying soul connection that will carry “me” into the future even when my body is in the ground collecting dust or being food for the fish. Lol.
I have learned that happiness and joy are reachable and I create and invite them into my life instead of having them just “drop in” like guests. They are my companions and friends. They carry me through times of tough learning experiences and bring me out wiser and smarter.
As I sit counting candles on my birthday, I count my blessings. Family and friends have enriched my life. They have given it meaning and purpose and surround me with warmth and love.
Between them, the love of my daughter and my God – there can be no greater gift. Happy 60th Birthday to me!!