Aging - The Good News

That's a photo of my Lizzie near the end of her life. She was a star. There will never be another like her.

Which brings me to today's subject - getting old. Dogs don't mind getting old. Neither do any other beasts that I know of. It's just what happens and it's way better than the alternative.

Me? Now that I'm getting older, I celebrate it in a big way. Too bad we live in a culture that does not seem to value "oldness." Pick up any magazine aimed at Baby Boomers - quite a few - and you'll see the ads for Botox, fillers, diet pills, etc. - any ways or means there may be to retain youth - including, of course, Viagra.

I wish we could just stop a minute and look at the beauty of being old. Speaking just personally (and I think statistics say I'm not in the minority), I have never been happier or more content in my life. The stress of the rat race no longer affects me. I don't worry about the boss or what he is going to do or think. I don't worry about finding Mr. Right or ditching Mr. Wrong or racing against my biological clock. I don't worry about keeping up with the latest fashions.

I'm old enough to have discovered who I am and what makes me tick. I know what makes me happy and what gets me excited. I have time - time to do all the things that bring me contentment - time to play with my dog or learn a new skill or travel or  watch American Idol or read a good book or watch a romcom on iTunes.

I have learned that stopping and smelling the roses really is a very important way to spend time. And wisdom really does come with age.

Youth is not wasted on the young. Youth is an apprenticeship, a time of trial and error. It can be fun and exciting. It can be scary. It's full of learning experiences. This time of life - the time when we can work less and play more - is the reward. It's amazing and wonderful.

I am grateful every moment of every day for this wonderful, miraculous life! Who cares if there are a few wrinkles here and there and age spots on my hands. I mean, really! The ironic thing is that when I had a flawless complexion and all the beauty that is the natural province of youth, I spent hundreds - nay thousands of dollars on all the latest brand name beauty products, seduced by the ads in the glossy magazines. It took me half an hour every morning to put my face on just right before I ventured out the door.

Today I slick on moisturizer, a dusting of powder on my nose, a quick lick of eyeliner and lip gloss and in less that five minutes I'm done. My hair? Oh, it just dries naturally.

Oh the bliss of being older and not wanting or needing to impress anyone! The bliss of truly coming into my own! If only young people knew - oh well, let's keep it a secret and let them make this delightful discovery all by themselves - they'll get here one day.