I think it's great that people are always genuinely shocked at how old I really am. Typically, they think I'm in my late twenties to early thirties. I just turned 42 years old.
Personally, I love being 42. Or 41 or 40 or 37. It's all about the process. I've earned my 42 years. They were not all easy years. Some of the years I thought were hard, in hindsight, were a piece of cake - what was I thinking in my silly youth?!
Someone asked what I would say to my 20 year old self. What advice I would give her. I think I'd just give her a hug and walk away. There is nothing I could have told my 20 year old self that would have made differences and yet still brought me to where I am today.
If I had gone down any number of paths, I might not have met and married J. If I had gone down any number of paths, we might not have become parents to Motor Mouth or Mini Me. Whatever careers or volunteer positions I've done, whatever people I've met, whatever mistakes I've made, whatever kudos I've accumulated in the past were all insignificant compared to having the family I have right now. Yet all of them were necessary to enable me to be with the people I live with. My kids are my reason for being on this earth. J and I were destined to be their parents.
So, if my eye lids are a little more droopy than when I was 30 or if I have a few more gray hairs than when I was 30, if I have some lines forming around my eyes or mouth, or if my boobs are not where they were when I was 20, it was all worth it to be doing life with this husband and these kids. Wait. I think it would be nice to have the 20 year old boobs and still be doing life with my family.
Personally, I love being 42. Or 41 or 40 or 37. It's all about the process. I've earned my 42 years. They were not all easy years. Some of the years I thought were hard, in hindsight, were a piece of cake - what was I thinking in my silly youth?!
Someone asked what I would say to my 20 year old self. What advice I would give her. I think I'd just give her a hug and walk away. There is nothing I could have told my 20 year old self that would have made differences and yet still brought me to where I am today.
If I had gone down any number of paths, I might not have met and married J. If I had gone down any number of paths, we might not have become parents to Motor Mouth or Mini Me. Whatever careers or volunteer positions I've done, whatever people I've met, whatever mistakes I've made, whatever kudos I've accumulated in the past were all insignificant compared to having the family I have right now. Yet all of them were necessary to enable me to be with the people I live with. My kids are my reason for being on this earth. J and I were destined to be their parents.
So, if my eye lids are a little more droopy than when I was 30 or if I have a few more gray hairs than when I was 30, if I have some lines forming around my eyes or mouth, or if my boobs are not where they were when I was 20, it was all worth it to be doing life with this husband and these kids. Wait. I think it would be nice to have the 20 year old boobs and still be doing life with my family.
"All of these lines upon my face / tell you the story of who I am." (song line your post reminded me of)
ReplyDeleteI've been surprised at my own reluctance STILL to get older. It's there, but it's easier to get over now because I'm so grateful for every year I get to live after all. I love the attitude you have and hope to be more like this from now on.