It was a happy 70th birthday indeed.
Not for me but for my mom.
I mean, it wasn’t originally how I wanted it to be but since a bunch of things happened in between, we found ourselves celebrating my mom’s milestone in Bangkok, Thailand — a quick escape I didn’t know I needed.
Because that unplanned time off not only allowed me to bond with my family, but also reflect and recalibrate in between, while broadcasting remotely and attending my PHD class virtually on the side . Whew. But all worth it.
Looking at how happy my mom was daily at her age was eye opening for me.
I mean before, when I was younger, I used to be terrified about the mere thought of aging.
But now at 44 and seeing my mom at 70, it made me realize that life can just be as good, maybe even better as we age.
And yes, aging isn’t exactly the time to sulk and worry. You deserve so much more even if your skin turns wrinkly and your hair, gray.
So not true. To be candid about it, you can be in your teens or twenties and feel you’re dying inside. Or you can be in your 70s or 80s and feel that life has just begun. It’s really up to you how to make the years count. Never let your age determine the level of happiness you’re allowed to have. And no, for as long as you take good care of yourself, find joy in yourself and the simplest things and not let your what could have beens distract you from the beauty of the now, you’re not dying– you’re living fully, no matter how old you are.
2. As you age, you lose your significance
Your worth as a person was never based on your age or your ability to cope with current trends. It’s based on the person that you have chosen to become through the years, your ability to weather through storms and inspire others to do the same as you live your purpose and journey towards your own #bestmeever . Don’t let the years gone by make you forget how amazing you are in the eyes of others, and hopefully, in your own, too.
3. It’s too late to start all over again
“I’m too old for that.”
“It’s too late for me.”
“I wish I had done it when I was younger.”
Now, if you catch yourself saying any of these, please do me a favor and stop. You don’t deserve to deprive yourself of the opportunity to grow, regardless of your age.For as long as you’re alive and you are truly committed to your goals and purpose, you can start all over again, as you are.
You, finally deciding to own your life, will always make you on time.
4. You will be consumed by regrets as you age
It’s not aging which makes you have regrets in the long run — it’s your decision making through years that have led you to feel that way simply because you weren’t at peace with your own results. The key here is to revisit your life and see it from a grateful lens. Everything happens for a reason. When you embrace that and focus on what’s under your influence and control, life goes on, and so can you, no matter what your age may be.
5. Age is but a number
It’s not. It’s a beautiful reminder of how many years you have existed in this life time. It’s a collection of beautiful memories you have made and milestones you have achieved. Not everyone gets to celebrate as many birthdays as you do. So the next time you celebrate yours, don’t be afraid or anxious. Instead, see it as an achievement: that you’ve made it this far, that you have new chances and opportunities ahead, and you’re still on your way to becoming your own #bestmeever .
I hope that after reading this blog, you get to appreciate yourself and your age better.
Time to celebrate yourself.
Never too late to start on something great, something new.
I couldn’t agree more.
This was actually the thought I had this morning while I was jogging, after realizing that it was already the 1st of August.
Yup, finally my birthday month as I turn 41 on the 12th.
I know, just a few days from now before I age a little more, albeit happily and gracefully, I’d like to think. haha!
While other people find it terrifying, I actually find celebrating birthdays (and aging) as a beautiful reminder that life goes on.
And that means, whatever space you are in now, you can still make it better as you journey towards your own #bestmeever .
So do away with the notion that aging is all about being frail, wrinkles and just watching life pass you by.
Because you know what, it will always be more than that.
You just can’t wait once a year to reflect, recalibrate and realize how blessed you are to celebrate yourself. Ok make that twice, because at times we do the same thing during new year. Imagine how different your life will be if you wake up excited every single day, anticipating wonderful presents and just being more aware of your progress. Remember, aging is not about how many years have passed you by; you can age happily and gracefully every single day as you choose to grow along the way as you celebrate yourself unconditionally.
2, Do away with superficial attachments
One thing I learned about life: people and things come and go. And you know what, that’s ok. So instead of stressing and sulking over attachments that have faded into oblivion, focus on the real connections made. Remember, each person and everything that happens to you has its own purpose and no matter how short, they probably have fulfilled it in their own way. Come from a space of acceptance and bask in the beauty of what was while remaining happy and excited over what is here and now.
3. Create a birthday bucket list
This one is very exciting for me because I get to chunk down my bigger goals into what’s workable within a year. This involves letting go of all the things (and people) that are no longer serving you well and becoming really honest with yourself and what you really want to have or achieve as you get a year older. Having a clear picture of the things you want to have and achieve, with a highly strategic action plan to turn them into reality makes your journey towards your entire year ahead more exciting and inspiring.
4. Be intentional in closing painful chapters in the past
I always say, you can only move on and forward if you have learned to be at peace with your past. And this means goving yourself the closure you want and deserve, with or without the consent (or presence) of the other parties involved. It’s all about reflecting fully, and accepting things as they were and acknowledging things as they are now. You have the power of choice to turn that page in your life and never look back so that you won’t be distracted as you live the life you’ve always wanted without anything holding you back.
5. Have a healthy relationship with yourself
You are the most important person inside the room. You can age happily and gracefully by having a healthy relationship with yourself, giving yourself what you want and what is due, choosing the space you want to be in and the people you want in your circle and allowing yourself to live the life you’ve always wanted without any form of judgment or fear. Yes, self-love and self-care play a very important role in aging wonderfully.
Let me end this blog post by saying that yes, age is but a number.
It’s not the number of years that count.
But rather, how you make each day, each moment ,
of every year added to your life, count.
May you age happily and gracefully too.
