--- Begin Message ---
I would never trade my amazing friends,
my wonderful life, my loving family
for less gray hair or a flatter
belly. As I've aged, I've become
kinder to myself, and less critical
of myself. I've become my own
friend.. I don't chide myself for
eating that extra cookie, or for not
making my bed, or for buying that silly cement
gecko that I didn't need, but looks
so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a
treat, to be messy, to be
extravagant.
I have seen too many dear friends leave
this world too soon; before they
understood the great freedom that comes
with aging.
Whose business is it if I choose to
read or play on the computer until 4
AM and sleep until noon? I will dance
with myself to those wonderful tunes of
the 60 &70's, and if I, at the same
time, wish to weep over a lost love
... I will.
I will walk the beach in a swim suit
that is stretched over a bulging body,
and will dive into the waves
with abandon if I choose to, despite
the pitying glances from the jet set.
They, too, will get
old.
I know I am sometimes forgetful. But
there again, some of life is just as
well forgotten. And I eventually
remember the important things.
Sure, over the years my heart has been
broken. How can your heart not break
when you lose a loved one, or when a
child suffers, or even when somebody's
beloved pet gets hit by a car? But
broken hearts are what give us
strength and understanding and compassion. A
heart never broken is pristine and sterile and
will never know the joy of being
imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived long
enough to have my hair turning gray,
and to have my youthful laughs be
forever etched into deep grooves on
my face.
So many have never laughed, and so many
have died before their hair could turn
silver.
As you get older, it is easier to be
positive. You care less about what
other people think. I don't question
myself anymore..
I've even earned the right to be
wrong.
So, to answer your question, I like
being old. It has set me free. I like
the person I have become. I am not
going to live forever,
but while I am still here, I will not
waste time lamenting what could have
been, or worrying about what will be.
And I shall eat dessert every single
day(if I feel like it).
MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE
HEART!
--- End Message ---
