Let’s face it, unless you’re 12 going on 13 you’re not into aging.  At least I know I’m not. Yet, it’s happening every minute of our lives, like it or not. That, I think, is the purpose of birthdays. To remind us that we’ve grown up over the last 365 days. That we’ve aged. And with age comes maturity. Or at least, it’s supposed to. 😕

I celebrate my birthdays. I don’t think of them as a signal that I’ve grown ‘older’ but rather more comfortable. I am who I am and no longer apologize for it. I’ve learned to recognize my weaknesses and am in the process of learning to recognize my strengths – AND acknowledge them. That will take some time for someone like me, but hey, I’ve just reached what I think is the mid-way point so I’ve got a lot of years ahead of me to do just that.

Would I go back in time and be young again? I don’t think so. Maybe 30. I wouldn’t mind that but I don’t long for it. By 30 I’d gotten past a lot of stupid thinking that had me making equally stupid mistakes. Not that I didn’t make mistakes in my 30’s, but they were much less dramatic… or I handled them in a less dramatic way. “Maturity” and all that, ya know?

So now, in my 40’s, I’m comfortable. I realize what it takes to be me. I also realize how much harder it is to be me now than it was a decade ago – it takes more exercise, heavier weights, more concealer under the eyes and a separate towel for when I… ‘fix’ my hair. 😳

I don’t mind getting older. I just don’t like looking the part. Whoever said “Youth is wasted on the young” had it right. And what’s worse is by the time we realize how right that is, our own young are at the stage where nothing we say has any value. Ah, if only we could pass these messages on to them in a language they understand… and hear.

It’s okay, really. I’m happy with who I am. I’ve learned which battles to fight and which to ignore. I’ve learned to gracefully side-step certain situations and I’ve learned how to stand up for the people I love. I’m not quite “there” yet, though. I’m not finished. I’m simply a work in progress. And, unlike the way I felt years ago, at this point in my life, I don’t mind one little bit.