Thoughts on Turning 60
Turning 60 - this milestone is just around the corner for me. I have never been one to worry much about age as the years have passed and time has been spent with family and friends making memories, laughing and sharing. I am very aware that I have been aging, since my children are now grown and I have grandchildren. It's just that the years tiptoed quietly by unnoticed.
I tell myself it is just a number, but this one seems different. As it approaches my emotions run from one extreme to the other. Most of the time I am fine with this - other times I find my anxiety level rises at the thought of this birthday. There has been much reflection on why there would be any anxiety over the approaching annual change of age.
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons is the fact that as each year passes we become more cognizant of how fragile life can be. Our health, which we tend to take for granted when we are younger, can change in an instant. We have all seen this with family members and friends. Although we don't spend time dwelling on this fact, we are deeply aware of it.
Another is that for some unknown reason time seems to pass by much more quickly as each year goes by. We go from one season to another in the blink of an eye or so it appears. Like the wind rushing by us so go the days. My mother has always told me that time goes faster as you age and now I know this is true. So many things left to do in our life
Maybe we are not exactly where we thought we would be at this juncture in our life. Hopes and dreams that have not yet come to fruition. There are so many things that we wanted to accomplish. As we reflect on the years that have passed, we will always find things that we thought we would have done by now. Lofty dreams of youth that with luck we will realize in years to come.
So ultimately I approach 60 being grateful for everything in my life. For the experiences that I have already had and for those yet to come. For the joys, and yes even the heartaches, as they all have shaped who I have become. I will accept my "laugh lines" as a warrior accepts his scars, with honor. We earn every one of them after all.
I will dance and smile when my milestone arrives and look forward to many more.
I tell myself it is just a number, but this one seems different. As it approaches my emotions run from one extreme to the other. Most of the time I am fine with this - other times I find my anxiety level rises at the thought of this birthday. There has been much reflection on why there would be any anxiety over the approaching annual change of age.
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons is the fact that as each year passes we become more cognizant of how fragile life can be. Our health, which we tend to take for granted when we are younger, can change in an instant. We have all seen this with family members and friends. Although we don't spend time dwelling on this fact, we are deeply aware of it.
Another is that for some unknown reason time seems to pass by much more quickly as each year goes by. We go from one season to another in the blink of an eye or so it appears. Like the wind rushing by us so go the days. My mother has always told me that time goes faster as you age and now I know this is true. So many things left to do in our life
Maybe we are not exactly where we thought we would be at this juncture in our life. Hopes and dreams that have not yet come to fruition. There are so many things that we wanted to accomplish. As we reflect on the years that have passed, we will always find things that we thought we would have done by now. Lofty dreams of youth that with luck we will realize in years to come.
So ultimately I approach 60 being grateful for everything in my life. For the experiences that I have already had and for those yet to come. For the joys, and yes even the heartaches, as they all have shaped who I have become. I will accept my "laugh lines" as a warrior accepts his scars, with honor. We earn every one of them after all.
I will dance and smile when my milestone arrives and look forward to many more.
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