There’s often lovely relief that comes with getting older. Not necessarily because life gets easy, but because we get more clarity about what matters. We stop trying to control what cannot be controlled. We learn that the “little” things really are the big things.
And with Valentine’s Day around the corner, it feels like a good time to honor love in a broader way, including the love we can feel for what aging gives us. So, beloved reader, here are some of the things I love as I age.
Wisdom. Perspective. Confidence. Clarity. Calm. Patience. Courage. Self-trust. Better boundaries. Less people pleasing. Saying no. Saying yes. Letting go. Knowing what matters. Humor. Depth. Grace. Acceptance. Resilience. Resourcefulness. Being most impressed by kindness. Deeper friendships. Real conversations. Less small talk. Being okay with silence. Being known. Knowing myself. Making peace. Forgiveness. Self-compassion. Less comparing. Less proving. More meaning. Better priorities. Quiet joy. Simple pleasures. Listening. Walking. Comfortable shoes. Not saving the “good” stuff. Loving people without trying to fix them. Freedom. Independence. Interdependence. Asking for help. Offering help. Giving less unsolicited advice. Receiving compliments. Finding meaning in little moments. Loving the life I actually have. Being proud. Being tender. Being direct. Being honest. Being done with drama. Spotting red flags faster. Trusting my gut. Better decisions. Knowing some problems need a walk first. Knowing that most problems shrink after a good night’s sleep. Knowing my limits. Protecting my peace. Not explaining everything. Not overthinking. Laugh lines. Trying new things. Forgiving old versions of me. Saying“I don’t know”. Saying “That doesn’t work for me.” Saying “I was wrong”. Saying “I’m sorry”. Being present. Living on purpose. Feeling at home in my life. Knowing I am ‘not done yet’.
If you have a thing or two (or more) that you love about aging, please let me know what those might be. I would love to hear. I’m going to keep adding to my list. Love yourselves, reader, it’s a worthwhile investment.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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