On Monday,
I turned 55 years old. I didn’t think of
55 as being a milestone. Yes, 50 was a
time to celebrate and to evaluate.
Months in advance, I let my husband know that I wanted to go away with
him for a weekend. We had a great weekend
in Sanibel Island, although I think we lowered the median age of people at the
resort by about 10 years!
What
has my attention about 55 is that it feels like I turned 50 just a few months
ago and that means that I’ll be 60 before I know it. I’m not worried about growing old or facing
health issues or even death. I am more
cognizant about how I am spending my time.
In the
past five years, what I want out of life has changed. Some of this is from life experiences. It was
in my 50th year that God swept me back to Him in the most marvelous,
loving way. Three years ago, my in-laws
moved in with us. Two years ago, I accompanied my Mom on her final journey on
this earth and last year was at the deathbed of my father-in-law. My husband and I survived one job lay off and
are currently in the process of experiencing another.
I find
myself wanting fewer things as I want to spend more time with my family and
friends. Television, except for watching
sporting events with my son or old movies with my husband is a thing of the
past. After years of collecting things,
I’m more inclined to give away items. I
want to travel more, find new ways to enjoy the outdoors, be more selective in
my volunteer hours and find extra ways to pray.
And I want to continue to make friends of men and women of all
ages. I have good friends who are 26 and
88. They variety of ages adds richness
to my days.
I want
to follow God’s path for my life. I’m
more inclined to try new things now than in my 30’s or 40’s, am not worried
about what others think of me and have found a creative part of me that I’ve
not experienced.
I think
more now about the amazing role models I’ve had in my life for aging. Mable, the 82 year old baker who I worked
with on weekends at Eden Glen restaurant as a college student, was the first “old”
person (other than a grandparent) that was my friend. I learned how to bake from her, but I also
watched as she lived an active and full life.
My Aunt
Mary is now 88. She and husband have
been great role models for how my husband and I want to live our retirement
years. Since his death two years ago, (she
married him when she was 19) she has been an amazing example of how to live as
a widow. When I went to visit her
earlier this month, she was complaining about aching joints. She planted mums in her garden the day
before!
Watching
the joy and energy of our beloved, aging Pope Benedict XVI is a life lesson in
itself. He has no retirement age. His papacy has changes as he is not able to
travel quite was much as before, but his desire to be the shepherd of his flock
is as vigorous as ever.
At 55,
I don’t wish to be younger, or old, but to enjoy each day to its fullest. That
might be the best gift of this milestone.
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