HappyComeLucky

This week’s Wicked Wednesday prompt is “Growing Older.” I think I am always quite open about the benefits and realities of growing older, but it seems like a good opportunity to draw some of them together.

Of course, everyone’s personal experience is different and there are things that are part of mine that others won’t recognise.

One of the things that I remember about my twenties was the lack of conversations, articles or discussions about growing older. People did use the phrase, “Life begins at 40,” but without any exposition of what that meant. Maybe I was just too settled and too responsible early on, but the forties were the years that I had no expectations of. That might have been because they were far enough away to be able to be ignored.

In my twenties, I was less of a reflective personality. Looking back, I was responsible rather than confident. Being responsible gave me good foundations for developing over the years. Making myself do things in my home and work lives has grown into a confidence and a boldness in my forties. It gives me a stronger voice to silence the whispering insecurities inside.

I think that is one of the benefits of getting older. The benefit of more life experiences means that I know that drama isn’t worth it and that life will go on. I am lucky. I have always, even with life’s challenges been able to shrug and find a space of contentment. There are downsides to that of course. I am not very ambitious and I am not competitive, but for me feeling calm and content out weighs them.

I know that by the time my grandma was 45, she was seen in the same grouping as those approaching retirement. There even seemed to be rules about dress codes for anyone whose children were now adults. I have to say, I am very glad that those no longer exist. I might get aches, hide my grey hairs and grumble about youngsters today, but I am not ready to be written off yet.

I am actually looking forward to seeing what each year in the future brings. For me, my forties are definitely my strongest, most sexy, sensual and amazingly delightful decade yet. Who knows what my fifties will be. All I know is that they will definitely be about being me!

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