A man's age is something impressive, it sums up his life: maturity reached slowly and against many obstacles, illnesses cured, griefs and despairs overcome, and unconscious risks taken; maturity formed through so many desires, hopes, regrets, forgotten things, loves. A man's age represents a fine cargo of experiences and memories. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
There's a song we used to sing in church when I was growing up. "Count your blessings, name them one by one..." I thought I'd count some of the ways that it's actually really neat to be middle-aged.
- My self-esteem is no longer based on what the other kids think of me.
- After many, many years together, I no longer am concerned that my husband will stop loving me.
- I actually like having an "empty nest" because the room formerly known as my daughter's bedroom is now my super cool office.
- I can try all sorts of new things, give them up, and move on to other things without being thought of as a flighty young woman, but instead as an adventurous older woman.
- I like me more now than I ever did when I was a young woman.
- I get to live vicariously through the adventures of my adult daughter, and also share my own adventures with my mother.
- I really get how much my parents did for us kids.
- I'm not afraid to reach out to other people and make friends.
- I'm not afraid to speak up for myself.
- Men seem to just keep getting better looking with age - my husband included. ;)
- I can re-read a book or re-watch a movie and probably enjoy it as if I've never seen it before because I probably won't remember half of it.
- I realize that life is too short for bad literature, obnoxious people, stupid guidelines, or saying no to dessert.
- Okay, I cry at sad movies...and TV shows....and sometimes commercials. So what?
- It's really fun to start working on checking off bucket list items.
- I like being the middle aged woman who just started running because it makes me feel like one of those inspirational women you'd read about in a magazine.
I have to agree with David Coverdale of Whitesnake. These truly are "the best years of my life."
