While I'm at it, another mention was brought about by a good friend who sent the following to me in an e-mail and I thought of all of you, my readers and followers. And to be honest, it was a good remembrance for me as well.
I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.
I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.
Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.
I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old.
I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.
Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.
So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.
As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore..
I've even earned the right to be wrong.So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).
And a special shout out to my friend Kathie who specifically wrote about the topic of aging in her blog: http://ramblingdandelions.blogspot.com/2010/12/time.html Give her a read~
22 comments:
Hi Tracy, What a wonderful post and so very encouraging. Thank you for your prayers for Amy's nephew. Preliminary report is that the surgery went well. More updates to follow. Have a great evening.
Yalza, its cold here, the high in Ga here was 40 and in the 20s at night all week long. Button up!
You rae so correct, we do mellow out as we get older, I spent way too much time stress out over looks and something I could not help. As we get older we change. I am glad my outlook is better now and as long as my hubby is happy with me and lord knows my heart then I am okay.
Keep lookin' up!
Tracy, thanks so much for passing this along. It well expresses the way I feel about myself. I am who I am and will treat myself with respect (and chocolates and baubles). I eagerly share what I have whenever possible. I'm grateful for what I have now and what I have had. It all makes me, me!
Best,
Bonnie
I couldn't have said it better myself, Tracy. Great write, wonderful wisdom ...
We are in a whopping 29 with high winds ... it's a HEAT WAVE! chuckle!
Have a lovely winters eve ~
TTFN ~ Marydon
Love this one and have found it to be true in my own life as well. I finally got up the nerve to not dye my hair and just let the gray come in all over, and you know what, I actually like it. That is one of the best things about getting older, it lets us be kinder to ourselves. Nice post and thank you.
Totally agree and well said. Aging is wonderfully freeing and a little pain here and there just makes you appreciate all the more the times when there are none.
Only 40 degrees here in Oregon, not toooo cold. And yes, I've also gotten more carefree as I get older. Or, as my body is getting older. My mind is still stuck somewhere around 34 years old--or as a teen, when I write YA!
We are in the 20 degrees here, and the wind just cut right through layers of clothes!
Way too cold in South Carolina too! I think you put it purrfectly, we've all earned the right to be wrong!
My sentiments exactly, Tracy. Very well said. Stay warm!! :)
I LOVE THIS POST! I earned my gray hair, yessiree!
I had to put air in my tires this afternoon and no longer than I was out there, my hands HURT!
I hope everyone finds a way to stay warm...
Hi Tracy, YES---aging is wonderful... I love my retirement years. I guess, as we age, we are more in control of our own lives than we were when we were younger, working fulltime and raising kids... (How did I do all of that? ha ha )
I guess the advice I would give to the younger generation is to work hard and SAVE money. IF you do, your retirement years will be glorious!!!!
I punished myself for many years because of my weight.... I finally (with George's love and help) have learned to accept me as I am ---and love me ---ALL of me!!!!! ha
Have a great week... Great post!!!
Hugs,
Betsy
I often describe myself as sounding young, but get reminded who I am when I look in a mirror.As we age things do not matter as much it seems.
Well said, Tracy. I think we all deserve to love and accept ourselves for who we are and to treat ourselves with kindness. Thanks for the reminder. :)
Beautiful post! It makes getting old not seem so bad after all :)
Tracy I loved this! I found myself just wanting to say HOO-RA!! at the end. lol
It's 28 here now but we have a low of 21. That's just too dang cold!
This is very good, and I agree with it all! It took me till my 50's to be self assured and comfortable with myself. Why is it that you can make a friend and be comfortable with them in months, but it takes over thirty years to be at ease with ourselves? We are usually way harder on ourselves than we are with others.
This was a great post! I refer to gray hair as, "Wisdom Scars." I proud of my scars :)
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
AMEN to that sermon!! I feel exactly the same.
Everything you wrote says it all; this is what I tried to express in my last post; time to love ourselves a bit more.
Rita
VERY cold here in Virginia as well, BRRRRRR. Even my birdbaths were frozen over and I saw 2 Blue Jays almost breaking their beaks trying to get to the water. I refilled both and I swear, in 2 hours they were frozen again. Going down to 15 degrees tonight, whew.
The post from the email is very true. I'm 63 and can vouch for every word of it. Just ask my belly, ask my white on white hair, and ask my tired eyes when I'm up till the crack of dawn trying to catch up on blog walks, lol. Wooohoooo, I made it! xoxoxo
Hey Tracy! Thanks for the shout-out. You are a love. By the way -- if you're still looking for a kitty, I can put you in touch with Casey, my daughter. She has a cute one! Until she gets rid of it, I can't go to her house and visit. I am deathly allergic, and sad to not have one myself! XO K
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