Why You Need to Live Your Life and Forget Your Age
It’s official.
I became a senior citizen yesterday. Yikes.
I can hardly say it out loud. Seriously. I talked myself in and out of this post a dozen times. I’ve avoided talking about my age here in the blogging community, because well, let’s face it…
Compared to everyone else—I’m old.
I don’t feel old. In fact, most of me feels faaaarrrrr from old.
One reason is that I really believed that I would have my act together by now.
But instead I still have many of my same old insecurities. I still have more questions than answers. And I still don’t have my act together. Not even close.
Oh, there are blessings too. I am more content, less stressed, and less anxious. I enjoy more get tos than have tos. And I think less about tomorrow and focus more on now.
So, the truth is… age is just a number. I’ll still have to remind myself daily to embrace the good and let go of the not so good. But that’s nothing new. It’s been a part of life at every age.
So I’ve gathered some quotes to help me stay focused on the good parts.
“Live your life and forget your age.” ~Norman Vincent Peale
“It’s not how old you are, it’s how you are old.” ~Jules Renard
“The wiser mind mourns less for what age takes away than for what it leaves behind.” ~William Wordsworth
“At age 20, we worry about what others think of us. At age 40, we don’t care what they think of us. At age 60, we discover they haven’t been thinking of us at all.” ~Ann Landers
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” ~C. S. Lewis
Old age is fifteen years older than I am. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes
[Tweet “It’s important to have a twinkle in your wrinkle. ~Author Unknown”]
They’re not gray hairs. They’re wisdom highlights. ~Author Unknown
When grace is joined with wrinkles, it is adorable. There is an unspeakable dawn in happy old age. ~Victor Hugo
“Experts in aging make a distinction between passive aging and purposeful aging. Successful, purposeful aging calls for continued involvement, relationships, discipline, and an attitude of faith.” ~George Sweeting
Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. Ecclesiastes 3:11–12
So, with that in mind I’m giving myself some nevers…
Never lose hope.
Never stop dreaming.
Never stop laughing.
Never stop learning.
Never stop praying.
Never stop believing.
Never stop caring.
Never stop loving.
Never lose your joy.
Life is an adventure at every age; one I want to embrace with enthusiasm. I will wake up with gratitude and praise God for the gift of each new day.
I will trust that if He has blessed me with this moment He has a plan and a purpose for it to be used for His glory. And with His help I will shrug off the lies that say I become less as my hair grays and my skin wrinkles.
Because every gray hair and every wrinkle is a reminder of where we’ve been, the Lord and I. He’s faithfully walked with me in the past and I trust He will join the adventure going forward.
And with His help I will “have a twinkle in my wrinkle,” joy in my heart, and forget my age.
Congratulations, Deb! And thank you for such an authentic and wisdom-filled post. I was just today thinking about how the French say how many years they own not how old they are. I think I want to own each of my years, embrace them dearly. That’s why I am looking forward to my birthday next month. One more to celebrate! Abundant blessings to you, sis. You look fabulous! I especially love your eye classes! Keep on shining!
I love that! I’m going to own my years too! Each one a gift and a blessing! Thanks for your kind encouragement. You’re a blessing!
Deb I joined that community with you this year. Love your post today.
Thank you Debbie! Enjoy a wonderful day!
Hi Deb,
Your post caught my eye since I just entered the decade of the 50s — how can this be??? I feel just like you do! By the way, you certainly do NOT look your age! I’m with you that I have some of the same insecurities I had when I was 15 so how did I get this old and not get any further on the road of life? Such good thoughts you wrote though, to remind us that there’s a lot more life ahead of us! I’m with you on this journey! Enjoyed this post!
Thank you so much Valerie! I know it happens in a blink doesn’t it? Moving forward with you celebrating the journey! Blessings to you!
I’m right there with you in the seniors’ club, Deb! In my novels, one of the characters refers to wrinkles as “life lines.” We’ve earned each and every one of them and should display them proudly. 🙂 Oh, and I also love the “twinkle in your wrinkle.”
Blessings!
Let’s keep twinkling Martha! Life lines are good. We earn them don’t we? 🙂
I completely agree with you! Age is just a number and its all about our passions and interests, you are never too old for anything. You only live once. 🙂
Thanks Tanja and many blessings to you!
Happy birthday! Embracing my age and growing older is something I am terrible at! I tell my husband that I will refuse to get out of bed on my 30th birthday! Ha! Love that you’re embracing it!! I hope your day was great.
40 was my hardest birthday Anastasia. Although, I have to admit this one made me take a deep breath. I think it was the “senior citizen” label. Just keep shining girl! You’ve got lots of living ahead! 🙂
My motto is “Live the Adventure.” I may be 63 (I think that makes you older than me…LOL) but I don’t feel like it and I certainly don’t want to act like it. I am convinced we have value to add to others’ life no matter our age. Live it the hilt Deb!
Great motto Bill! Yes, I’m a little older. Four days older than Rev. He’ll join the senior crowd on Saturday. And we will glad live the adventure each day God gives. Blessings!
Happy Birthday, Deb! You are such a blessing. Thankful that our paths crossed on the internet.
Thank you Lyli! You made my day! God’s blessings to you!!
‘Deb – What a beautiful post! Love the ‘nevers’ – never stop: laughing, loving, hoping, caring… that’ll keep the twinkle, twinkling! Great post!
Oh Deb I’m with you in all that you wrote.
I’m in my late 50s so I look around me in the blogging world and feel old but we need to get over that and do the nevers instead.
What an uplifting post. Loved all your quotes! Happy Belated Birthday!
I’m not sure what age a senior citizen is anymore. Some restaurants say it is 55, movie theaters – 62, social security – whatever age you start taking benefits! Anyhoo, I am right there with you Deb. I agree with what you said about not thinking so much about the future but living in the now. I don’t have to make big plans anymore and can concentrate on living the best life I can today. So good!
Blessings to you my friend,
Patti
Ah, I love this! Congratulations by the way, and happy birthday! I love the quote from Ann Landers. That made me chuckle. You know, I don’t think I’m old until I look at recent pictures of people my age who I knew years ago and think, “Wow, they’re really old!” I also loved, “I enjoy more get tos than have tos.” Perfect! Enjoy this season of your life!
What a cute post, “A twinkle in your wrinkle” love that. You look beautiful. I am older than most moms in my season of life since I went through infertility. I feel just as young until I realize I could be my friend’s mom. Thanks for the fun post.