Coming Of Age

What’s in a number? It’s a good question.
I guess my answer would be… whatever you put into it.
I turned 55 on Sunday. I could be depressed or distressed.
But I’m not. In fact, I’m actually quite joyful about it.
That may sound like someone trying to fool himself, but it’s not.
That’s because I’ve learned over the years that almost every situation can be looked upon in a positive or negative light.
Age is at the top of that list.
You don’t have total control over what happens to you. That’s especially true of getting older.
But you do have control over how you react to things.
A woman named Jackie who I worked with a couple decades ago was almost giddy on her 50th birthday. I asked her how she attained that attitude. She told me she looks at birthdays as accomplishments. That she’s reached a certain level. That’s she’s aged… like a wine.
I’ve adopted her philosophy since then. I used it on my 40th birthday, on my 50th birthday and now on my 55th.
On all birthdays, I take a moment to look back on what I’ve accomplished. I’ve been married for 33 years. I have two wonderful grown daughters. I have a delightful grandson with another grandchild on the way. I put myself through college and I’ve made a living writing for more than three decades. I’ve kept myself in good health. The list goes on.
I urge everyone to do the same on their birthdays, milestone or not. First, tell everyone it is your birthday. Don’t hide it. Second, take a moment to think about what you’ve accomplished. It’s a good day to reflect on the positive.
It’s also a good day to start something new. I took up the drums on my 50th birthday. I started learning French this year.
Have some fun, too. I’m visiting my grandmother this week. She turned 96 on Sunday. We’re actually going to Denny’s and both using their senior discounts. Awesome.
In particular, Baby Boomers should adopt this practice. It’s a good example to set for the rest of society. It’s also could go a long way toward changing the way our society looks at age. Age could start being viewed as an asset and not a liability.
Remember the saying… I’m not older, I’m better.