4 things I’m embracing growing up // AD

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As a youngster, I never really imagined myself getting older. I always had a life plan in mind. I would be married with two children by the time I turned 30 years old but beyond that I didn’t really plan anything else. I always knew getting older would be part of my future but I could never imagine it happening. When I did turn 30, I was pregnant with my first child and had been married for 5 years. I through my life plan out the window and decided whatever would be, would be. Then, I was left devastated when my school friend died aged 30 leaving behind two young boys. It hit home that life never turns out the way you plan it and I needed to embrace life and getting older as some will never have that.

I’m embracing every year that I age with gratitude. I’m the lucky one to be able to grow that little bit older and wiser, gaining experience every single day. I’m the lucky one that’s able to see and experience things that are happening in the world right now, using them to influence my future decisions and behaviour. I’m the lucky one who is able to do that. Here are four things I’m embracing as I’m getting older. 

My wrinkles 

As I look in the mirror I notice that my eyes look more defined. I have fine lines and wrinkles around them and when I laugh or smile, they become even more prominent. Isn’t it a joy to be able to laugh and smile? I love watching my boys dance, listen to their jokes and daft interactions, they make me smile every single day and I would rather be wrinkly and have a heart full of happiness than have a smooth wrinkle-free face with no love and happiness in her life. 

My hair 

My hair is a mess currently but it’s something I can work on. I actually really love those grey silvery hairs that sprout up, they’re a beautiful colour. I just wish they were all or nothing, you know? My hair is thinning at the front but that’s just my age so I’m taking steps to make it look more voluptuous with hair products and a different way of wearing it. I know the same problem occurs for me and a Man’s hair loss problem can be solved easily in Hairbro. How ever my hair grows, I remind myself daily that I’m happy to have hair that maybe different colours and is a bit thin at the front, but at least I have some to worry about! 

My wisdom 

There is a lot I wish I could go back and tell my younger self about. Hindsight is such a wonderful thing. I would go back and choose a different set of friends to hang around with at high school. I would encourage myself to have the confidence to stand up for what she believes in and not follow the crowd because that’s what everyone else is doing. I would stand up for myself more knowing it would all work out just fine. Wisdom is such a powerful thing. Everyday I learn something new. Something new about myself and my resilience, about the world and about everyone else. I’m embracing this wisdom as it’s a powerful thing to realise that experience can teach you a whole lot about yourself and how to behave in life and inspire others. 

Friendships 

Growing up I had lots of friends. I had friends at school, family friends, friends at Guides and various activities. I had the fortune of having lots of friends that I knew and could spend time with every single day. As I grew up, friendships drifted apart and that’s okay. Life allows us to grow up and change. Life experiences show us different perspectives and that really showed me exactly who I could call my friends and who were just there for the fun of it. Friendships today are those that I value, people who I love and trust and have always been there for me. I value my friends and their opinions (they’re not all the same as mine which is what I appreciate) I trust their friendships and can surround myself with their love, happiness, wisdom and experience.