Monday Musings: Aging is a Gift

I'll be the first to admit that getting older is hard. For women, our bodies change (again!) and our outward youthfulness begins to diminish. Losing weight and gaining muscle prove to be difficult. Despite these challenges, there are wonderful aspects of aging.

I'm trying to embrace midlife with grace and appreciation. A few weeks ago, I wrote how I incorporate proactive healthy habits in life daily. This practice helps me ease into aging so that I feel a sense of ownership of what oftentimes feels uncontrollable.

I'm practicing gratitude for my family and my good health, and the opportunity to see my kids navigate life's ups and downs on their path toward adulthood. It's been extremely satisfying to witness my children experience self-discovery.

I'm thankful for the wisdom I didn't have even 5 years ago. I've determined my boundaries and limits so that I can be true to myself and honor my personal values. I'm not easily persuaded these days because I am confident in who I am. It's taken most of my adulthood to figure this out. It was a journey that included bouts of anxiety and self-doubt. I'm so glad to be on the other side.

Even with all the changes, midlife is the beginning of my second act and maybe the best act. This next one will feature high school and college graduations, children leaving our home, parenting young adults, travel and so much more. The lines on my face may be more defined, my running pace may be slower, but I'm enjoying these moments because I worked faithfully the last 20 years to get to this point.

Aging is a gift. Perhaps one of the greatest I'm receiving in this life.