Closer to 60 than 50, wait what?
And just like that, I’m officially closer to 60 years old than I am to 50
So today I turned 55.5 years old. It’s been on my mind a bit just as it was when I was turning 45.5 years old. I’ve never had too much angst about turning 30, 40, or 50 years old. There seems to be such a fuss about all of these decades and what it means. Am I where I wanted to be? Accomplished what I’m supposed to have by now? By the time I get right up to these milestones I only want to celebrate. Entering a new decade is an accomplishment worth marking.
55.5 is a big bday too, here’s to the midway point (cuz, I’m certainly past middle age, lol)!
I mean I’m totally used to being in my 50s by now. Why did I ever even think 50 sounded old? But, if I’m honest, 60 is sounding kinda old (sorry to my many friends and relatives who are there already or almost). Many of my heroes are in their 60s, but can I be 60? As a younger person, it seemed like an age I didn’t really have any reason to even imagine. It’s not like I was walking around in my 20s and 30s wondering what it would be like to be 50 or 60. My parents seemed “pretty cool” when they were that age. Now that I am here, I love that it feels so much younger than I thought 55.5-year-old folks would feel.*
60 is the new 50? What if I still think I’m 35?
So as I reach this inconsequential milestone of 55.5, I know that it’s okay to actually contemplate what it will be like to be 60, it’s kind of my process. Perhaps it’s just easier for me to slowly start preparing myself for it so I can act all casual when it occurs and focus on the blessings of another trip around the sun.
I chose the “marathon” graphic because I just lived vicariously through all the amazing runners at the 2022 Chicago marathon just a few weeks back. It was a gorgeous day and the energy was so intoxicating, I reveled in the successes I witnessed and friends and families cheering them on. This was the first time I went near the finish line downtown where all the runners meet their loved ones and celebrate their accomplishments. I heard languages from all over the world and was proud to call this amazing city home.
What about those annoying full-of-rage drivers and one more spam call? Who cares.
Like all of us, I’ve had friends and relatives and some of their children leave this planet way too soon. Living with their memories is always with me and encourages me to be better and try harder. I’m not sure if a marathon is in my future but reaching goals and hitting big milestones is something I intend to keep doing and trying to model for my children. Staying “loose”, looking for the heroes all around me and continuing to root for all of us is my simple plan.
*Minus arthritis which is apparently the cause of all my aches and pains + monthly salon highlighting bill and a son who is a college graduate.
P.S. And if you’ve read this far….knowing that my actual 4/20 birthday brings a smile to so many faces is a bonus. It used to be known for something else, so this reference works for me.
P.P.S. This is just for my direct marketing pals, please send revisions. I did my own proofreading.
Thursday 10.20.22
Chicago Marathon 2022