I was having a conversation with one of my girlfriends recently about the aging process. We were reminiscing about our early 20s and how, back then, aging was something we couldn’t wait to do. Life was all about summer vacations that stretched out endlessly and phrases like, “I can’t wait until I’m older” often flowed out of us.
When we’re young, life seems to move in slow motion. It’s as if we have an inordinate amount of time left to accomplish our goals and realize our dreams. I know this was true for me. I spent my teen years longing to “make the team,” get invited to prom and dreaming of the day I’d leave home and go off to college. In my 20s and 30s, I was hard-charging on the career front, traveling around the country and occasionally the world for my work in the music industry. Following that period of my life, I then put every last bit of blood, sweat, and tears into creating The Studio (MDR). Now solidly in the middle of my 40s, I’m doing a lot of reflecting—looking back, as well as looking forward, and being sure to take stock often about whether or not I’m living life to its fullest.
But, let’s face it: The aging process can be beautiful, and challenging. Just today, I caught a glimpse of myself in the rearview mirror of my car as I was driving to work and I thought, Hold up—how did I go from 30 to 35 to, oh my goodness, 46 this week. But I still feel like I’m 35! Don’t get me wrong—I’m grateful for my health and body, which I’ve worked hard to take care of. And, I also can’t help but notice that the elasticity of my skin has changed, as well as the contour of my cheeks. I think most women of a certain age can relate!
My goal, of course, is to be genuinely OK with aging. And I’m learning that one of the secrets when it comes to doing this is to remind myself how grateful I am for every moment I have on this Earth and for every relationship I’ve made. What can I do to show myself and the people I love (including all of you!) this gratitude? What changes do I need to make to be sure I’m tapping the best of my capabilities and pushing the envelope when it comes to leaving this world a better place than how I found it?
I don’t have all of the answers, that’s for sure. And when I score the insider secret weapon to fight wrinkles and sagging skin, I’ll share it with you here! Yet in the meantime, I think all of us owe it to ourselves to ask these questions and to enjoy each moment.
And as I get set to stare down my 46th turn around the sun, I plan to embrace the changes rather than obsessing about the things I cannot control (except maybe for the saggy skin… : )
With heartfelt thanks for being such a special part of my life,
Lisa