photo credit: kittykatfish
Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. ~Samuel Ullman
I will be forty-two in September, so really I’m grateful for being young at heart.
Growing older, I’d have to say that there is only one birthday that bothered me, and that was when I turned thirty, and for a couple of reasons. As I have mentioned before, I wanted to do stand-up comedy, and at some point, I let life get in the way of me living out my dreams. I was also under the impression, that it seemed as though all pop icons, became the stars they were, whether they were James Dean, John Belushi or Curt Cobain, by achieving great things before their 27th birthday. Turning thirty, made me feel like that opportunity had passed me by.
I also knew turning thirty, I could no longer use the youth excuse. I was a grown man, and it was time to act like one. Did I? Not in the least bit. I spent most of my thirties in self-pity, but regardless of my physical age, mentally, I felt, and do still feel young.
When I turned forty, I am glad I didn’t have one of those over the hill parties, where all the party favors and decorations were black, or where people gave you joke gifts like a box of depends, to signify that you are now old. I celebrated my birthday like I always do, dinner with my family.
I welcome my forties. Years ago, if you would have asked me what year in my life I would like to freeze in time, I would have said my early twenties, but if you asked me today, I would say, RIGHT NOW. I don’t know what it is, but something just seemed to click in me, this is my decade, these I know will be the most enjoyable years I have ever had on this great blue marble. I just don’t know how to explain it, but it seems I am awake, and realize that certain things just aren’t that important, and other things I didn’t even consider, are life changing. If welcomed, age and experience can give you a sense of confidence, where you come to realize that, you just don’t have to accept what the world dishes out, you are above that.
I would be lying if I said that I don’t feel the physical effects of the stress I put on my body throughout the years, but mentally, I am still just a kid. When I see myself in the mirror, I don’t see some old guy who is just a hop, skip and jump away from his fifties. I see a striking, handsome man. I see someone brimming with confidence, because he has God given experience that he can rely upon to make the right decisions. I see a man, who can, and will achieve greatness, because of the youthful vigor of his mind, and spirit. The forties are mine to own, and own them I will.
