"I can't believe they're playing this on this station", I say. "I saw them in concert in like 1991." Devin replies with, "weren't you like 7?" And, Y'all. He was dead serious. God bless him. Love that kid!
I was honest though and told him that, "No, I was actually 20 because I was born in 1971." He says, "but that would make you like forty something!" I tell him that, "yes, I'll be 40 in April...don't I look it? I sure don't feel it."
"No", he says, "you don't."
Again, GOD BLESS HIM! This kid doesn't dish out many compliments and I don't think he even knew this was one but sure made mama feel good.
This whole turning 40 this year thing seems very surreal to me and I know y'all are probably going to get sick and darn tired of hearing me ramble on about it on this blog but it's my blog and I'll ramble if I want to.
The truth is, I've done much pondering over this subject and I'm pretty okay with it. In fact, I'm more than okay with it. Getting older has somehow recently started to make me feel more powerful and I think it has everything to do with the knowledge I've gained and the mindset I have about things now that I just didn't have when I was younger.
I'm way more comfortable in my own skin than I ever was in my 20s or early 30s and simply because I've lightened up on myself A LOT. Oh, I still have my insecurities like everyone else but I no longer base my life and happiness on what size I'm wearing or what the number on the scale reads this week.
When I was younger I think I thought life was all about my own fulfillment and I looked at the world and thought, "what do you have to offer me today?" Now I know just enough to realize that the greatest satisfactions in life do not come from personal gain. They come from what we put in and from what we give back.
I have often times struggled with distinguishing between the right thing to do (God's voice) and the thing that will make me feel the best right at this moment. Not saying I always get it right, by any means, but I like to think I'm getting better at it.
I love browsing and reading quotes from various people. Sometimes you just find one and think, Wow! How profoundly wise this person is/was and the words just stick with you. Here is one of those:
"Never undertake anything for which you wouldn't have the courage to ask the blessings of heaven." ~G.C. Lichtenberg
And I think I'll end with those wise words today.
Hope y'all have a wonderful weekend!
I think this may be my favorite of your blog postings thus far. I identify with most of what you expressed and feel pretty much the same way you do. I turned 40 last August. It wasn't bad at all. I have often said that one of the best things about growing older is gaining confidence and caring less about what people think of the real you.
ReplyDeleteThat comfortable feeling brings happiness but not as much happiness as your second excellent point. "the greatest satisfactions in life do not come from personal gain. They come from what we put in and from what we give back." Diane, I couldn't agree more. It's hard to feel sorry for your self all the time when you can be more concerned with other people's needs and reaching goals for the sake of others.
And we are not the only ones that are saying this: "those whose goals centered around such things as personal growth, enduring relationships, and helping in the community showed substantial increases in life satisfaction, well-being, and happiness factors."
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=7658253&page=1
Thanks for the good read.
Oh, and my daughter too, many times, has had to rock out to "You Shook Me All Night Long" blasting from the minivan. I'm sure she heard a muffled version a few times before she was even born.
It's ironic that you mention the "me" state of mind of your younger years. I'm struggling with that now (I'm 31), and I'm hoping that the awareness of it counts as progress. But Lord knows that progress is slow... It's good to know that at some point the "me-ness" subsides. Thanks for sharing & inspiring!
ReplyDeleteThat quote sure makes you stop and think! I turned 40 a couple years ago and it was no problem. It was 30 when I went nuts!
ReplyDeleteIt's great to hear that you are in such a good place, especially, or maybe because of all you've been through.
ReplyDeleteAnd I remember being in a college bar with my ex when that song came on the radio... he, more of a Bob Marley kind of guy got this puzzled look on his face and said,"How do you dance to this?" I screamed, through my hands up in the air and proclaimed, "Like THIS!"
being old is a beautiful thing. :)
ReplyDeleteI went to an AC/DC in concert about two years ago and it was fabulous. I went with my husband and my then eight-year-old son didn't speak to us for two days because he was upset he wasn't allowed to go. Oh, the young! I am 41 and still feel like I am 30 (except for those difficult 5:30 am get-ups), but I feel better about myself now than I did then and I am in a better place than I was then. And I have the most amazing husband and children (definitely a gift from God)!
ReplyDeleteI could identify with your post and I know exactly how you are feeling. Life is all about developing the self and it's always an on-going process. If we were perfect, life would certainly be boring, wouldn't it?
Have a great weekend!
I'm not too far behind you. I agree with another reader....30 was kind of hard. At 35 I felt pretty good, I ran a half marathon for the first time.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wonder if I'll survive long enough to make it to 40:)
I know some pretty amazing women 40+ and I hope I can pull it off like they do.
I am about to turn 40 and feel absolutely fine about it. You should check out Sondra Wright's latest book on the subject titled, "40+ and Fabulous: Moving Forward Fierce, Focused, and Full of Life!" It completely reduces fears about aging and helps women feel optimistic about their future
ReplyDelete