Another birthday - does it suck or shine?

March 1st is a milestone for me and Nebraska. Statehood day for Nebraska. Birthday for me — my 69th, to be exact. (Guess I’ll have to update my contact page.) Birthdays are always special to me, not because I want to celebrate in a grand way, but just — well, just because. I’m alive. I have a lot to be thankful for, and I’m continuing on my journey to 120. Although I must say, age is also so relative to me. Sometimes I even forget my actual age. I just don’t think about it that much.

But on March 1st, it was clear that a lot of people did. Cards and letters came in. Facebook was filled with birthday wishes from my “friends.” Invariably though, there are always a few downers. A friend I’ve known since high school days was a phone well-wisher, and after a birthday hello, the follow-up was, “Doesn’t this age just suck?” What? Never thought of it that way, but clearly she does. A comment like that does give me pause, at least to reflect on why she feels that way. She’s just a few months older than I am and in reasonably good health. She’s divorced and may still be grieving from her mother’s passing a year or so ago. So is she lonely? Or is she, dare I say, it, lazy? Clearly, we do not share the same idea about birthdays.

The one thing I did spend some time thinking about was next year’s 70th birthday. Now that’s something to celebrate and mark with some special events or milestones. Like taking a girl trip with my two adult daughters, or planning a spectacular vacation for the entire family. I’m thinking of some “me” things too, like finally buying a baby grand piano or getting back on a horse after 30-plus years. But again, there are always some “spirit-busters.” Another dear friend wished me well, but said she has such a hard time accepting that the age of 70 would be attached to us.

I’ve finally decided why so few people fall into the category of a long lived life. It’s because they don’t WANT to live long. They either have the expectation that the future of aging is bleak, barren and ugly. Or they just aren’t willing to put forth the effort to prepare for that latter stage of growth.

Well, count me out on that. Here again, that’s why I’m writing this blog. To chart my path on that long lived life. To march into older life with style and grace. I just finished a book by Dr. Andrew Weil called Healthy Aging, A Lifelong Guide to Your Physical and Spiritual Well-Being. It’s filled with helpful information to help us age gracefully. The final chapter talks about writing an “ethical will,” something I’ll tackle in another post, but he ends with a hope for all of us on this path:

“…..my wishes for graceful, healthy aging as you advance in years. I hope you will discover and enjoy the benefits that aging can bring: wisdom, depth of character, the smoothing out of what is rough and harsh, the evaporation of what is inconsequential, and the concentration of true worth.”

Now that’s my kind of birthday wish! LET IT SHINE!