When I was a teenager and well into my 30s, I rarely considered what my life would look like at 50. It was unimaginable and pointless to even think about aging because it felt so far away. Until one day – it wasn’t. Here I am – 54 years old and still finding it hard to believe.
So, what do you do when a milestone that once felt light-years away slaps you in the face? You grab your friends and talk about it. But not just any friends. This conversation about embracing aging is best suited for the besties who I grew up with. It is best suited for the girls who I have literally grown up with. The girls who “Knew me when”.
I recruited my friends Traci S, who I have known since I was 9 years old, and Tracie G, who I have known since I was 14. No – Your bifocals are not playing tricks on you – My name is Traci, and my bestie’s names are also Tracie/Traci.
“The Three T’s” Although our names are the same, our experiences of growing older have been somewhat different. We had a great discussion about how we felt about being 54, how we cope with the reality of having more time behind us than ahead of us and so much more.
Below are 5 takeaways from our talk. Maybe you will find some similarities in your own story.
Lesson 1: Cherish the Moment
The best way to fight the dread of aging is to celebrate life. Aging can often bring with it a sense of mortality, but instead of letting that awareness cast a shadow, use it to illuminate the present. Celebrate the small joys and cherish the moments because there are so many people that have passed away before us. They do not have the gift of life. It would be selfish to not celebrate ours.
Lesson 2: Embrace Changes of aging with Grace (and have your aesthetician on speed dial)
Accepting the new phases of our lives and adapting to them with a positive outlook can make all the difference in how we experience our years. Especially, as it relates to the reflection in the mirror. I was expecting crow’s feet and laugh lines but the random hair growing from my chin was not on my bingo card! Still – we have gratitude for the advancements of skin care over the years to help repair what we did to our skin in the 80’s.
Lesson 3: Foster Connections
Maintaining connections with friends is an important part of fulfillment as we grow older. From reconnecting with old friends to forging new relationships, the connections we nurture can sustain us emotionally and mentally as we age.
Lesson 4: Life-Long Learning and Goal Setting
Tracie G’s pursuit of a master’s degree later in life was nothing short of inspiring. It stands as a testament to the idea that it’s never too late to learn something new or reinvent oneself. Traci S expressed that her life is focused on Goals and Gratitude. Setting goals and cultivating a sense of purpose can reignite our passion for life and push us toward personal fulfillment, regardless of age.
Lesson 5: Laughing is better than Crying
From receiving the AARP mail piece AND the hearing-aid coupon on the same day to being called “Grandma” by your 8-year-old student to random aches and pains for no reason – there is an abundance of reminders to keep us on our toes. Being confronted about our age when we feel so young can make us want to cry. But we don’t cry. We laugh instead. And then we text each other to share the story so that we have others that are laughing with us. Age is just a number. It’s a number that represents growth, wisdom, and an opportunity to appreciate each day.
The fun and rich dialogue of our experiences, the laughter, and the poignant moments from the episode— Embracing Aging: Three Gen X Women discuss the good, the bad and the beauty of growing older—can be found on the “Age Slayers with Traci Lynn” podcast.