Random Rambling-Thoughts on Aging

It has been a while since I have done a random rambling. That doesn’t mean I haven’t had some rambling thoughts though. There seems to be plenty of things to ponder on all the time. I just haven’t made the time to put the thoughts on here. Lately I have been thinking a lot about aging. 46 is doing some things to my brain. 45 didn’t seem so old, but suddenly 46 feels dangerously close to 50. I am surrounded by so many young people that I tend to feel young. Life more or less keeps me feeling young until…

I realize I need more sleep than I used to. 

I look at my hands and realize I really am aging. 

I have to buy good shoes and think about arch supports and shoe inserts. 

I find myself talking about perimenopause and hormones

I suddenly can’t see things up close like I used to be able to

I think it is time for

The list goes on. I am in fact getting older. 

Sometimes I get a little sad about getting older. Life seems to be flying by so quickly. I don’t want to miss it. I don’t want to waste it. I want to continue to feel young enough to enjoy life. When I really stop and think about it, the alternative to aging is not great. I have lost so many people in my life mostly due to cancer and way too young. Even when I lose someone that is older, it still makes me stop and think. The only way not to age is to not be here any longer. That is a sobering thought. It reminds me to have gratitude for the ability to age. It really is a gift and rather than being sad about getting older I really want to focus on the gift of being able to age. Maybe I will need more supportive shoes or ankle braces or reading glasses or all of the above, but that means I get to be around to see myself through those stages.

So the question becomes, besides saying gratitude, what can I really do to enjoy the process of aging?

I have made major improvements to my sleep over the last handful of years. 

It is time (or past time) to use sunscreen and serums on my hands. 

I started buying better shoes years ago and plan to continue that forever. 

I am doing all I can to learn about hormones and how to not spend these years suffering because “that is what happens to women”

It’s time for reading glasses. 

All those things are helping. I also want to continue to journal and connect with friends and family and stay active and enjoy all that life has to offer.  

*collaborative post