The Right Age
“I’m too old for that,” my 53-year-old friend said.
I regularly hear such comments from those who have hit the big zero years (50, 60, 70). Once-attractive women complain, “When women reach a certain age, men ignore them.” When I hear that, I think, So what? Do you need approving stares to be happy?
I’m tired of hearing friends cringe at the mention of aging. I have no desire to be 30 or 60 again and am grateful for the years behind me.
Just because we reach “a certain age” doesn’t mean we stop living or enjoying life. Instead, we have an opportunity to add to our lives, to explore new ideas, and take pleasurable risks.
This year I turned 85, and I’m delighted to admit it. Here are a few things I say about my age:
- "I've earned every wrinkle and creak in my body."
- "This is the cost of living longer."
- "I'm happy being who I am right now."
- "This is exactly the right age for me."
Getting older isn’t only a downhill slide; we can always find positives. No matter how dismal life seems, we can choose to stay positive.
For example, my faith has grown stronger and my attachment to others is deeper. I’m free to say no. The older I get, the more I know the relationships I want to maintain and those I want to let go.
Regardless of the number of my years, I’m exactly the right age to increase my joy and appreciate all the goodness of life. I relish the freedom and the joy of life instead of thinking how terrible it is to get old. I regularly say to myself, “This is the life I’ve been preparing to live. Now I’ll enjoy it.”
What about you and your age? Can you say these words below?