A funny thing happens once you hit the age of 40…you start realizing how old you are.
Sometimes it “hits” me that I am 43 years old, and it can be a little jarring.
Not that 43 is ancient by any stretch, but in my mind I stopped aging at around 34, so when I look in the mirror and see a new line or a place that is a little bit farther south than it used to be, it always take me a bit by surprise.
It forces me to acknowledge the truth: I am now middle-aged.
I don’t dwell on it for too long though. Worrying about it won’t stop the clock and I know that ultimately, I am the one who defines my age. I am the one who gets to decide what 43 means to Lisa Scott, and I have decided it really doesn’t mean a whole lot. It’s just a statistic.
I am 5 ‘ 4″, my hair is brown, my eyes are green, I am 43.
I refuse to allow my “age stat” to have more significance than any of my other “stats”.
As cliché as it sounds, age really is just a number.
Life does not have to start slowing down once you hit 40.
Life does not have to start slowing down at any age. You are never too old to find inspiration, learn something new, start a new career, or even completely re-invent yourself. Your life is yours to do whatever you want with, anytime you want to do it.
We are all born. We are all going to die. And life is what happens in between. It doesn’t matter where at in the “in between” part you are….alive is alive. And you wouldn’t still be alive unless you were meant to be living!
I am more self-confident, wiser, and in better shape now than I have ever been in my life. The last 10 years of my life have been an emotional and personal growth spurt for me. I have been paying attention throughout my life and have learned from a great MANY mistakes. I am not going to waste all that wisdom and personal growth by spending the rest of my life in a slow, depressing transition to becoming “old”.
No way!
I am going to use all that wisdom and knowledge to be awesome!
Despite my health phobic, pessimistic nature, I plan on living to be a hundred and that means I haven’t even started the second half of my life yet. Why would I start slowing down now? My bucket list is long! I have things to do! I know that the happiest day of my life is yet to come and I love knowing when I go to bed at night that tomorrow could be “the day”. To be realistic, I have 5 young kids and live in a perpetual state of being “stressed out” and making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, so I know that in all likelihood, tomorrow will not be “the day”. But I always have that little bit of hope! Being 43 can’t take that from me!
Don’t lose YOUR spark! Don’t let it burn out. As I was just telling my daughter earlier today, life is not about whether the spotlight is shining on you. It’s about the light that comes from you……your spirit… the energy that you put out into the world. A well fed soul will shine, and nothing feeds your soul more than staying true to yourself, trying new things, and finding something to be passionate about. Age has no power over any of that!
Learning and trying new things and keeping the mindset of an “explorer” in this life of yours – this is what tells your brain and your mind that you are still growing and evolving and that there is still work to be done!
It sends the message that you still have a lot of living to do! I believe very strongly that when you slow down your life and start thinking and living as if you are “nearing the end”, your brain senses that and starts “packing up the boxes” to prepare for “closing down”. It no longer thinks it has a purpose. A soul that isn’t fed will starve to death.
I am not going to let that happen.
People always say to live like you are dying. But I think we should live as if we are going to live forever.
You know that melancholy feeling that takes hold on Sundays because you know the weekend is almost over? Don’t let that become the second half of your life. As long as there is breath in you, believe that you will be alive tomorrow. Never be without a plan for your future. Never be without a goal. Never let an acknowledgement of “the end” dampen one moment of your spark for being alive.
What feeds your soul?
I always told myself I was going to start a blog someday, and last year I finally did it. Now, I am kicking myself for not having done it sooner. Through this blog, I discovered my true purpose: helping people recover from anxiety. For the last 10 years, my identity has been that of a mom, and while being a mom is the greatest gift I have ever been given, it feels so nice to be doing something for myself….something that makes me feel like ME . My soul feels very satisfied because of it.
I am also trying to teach myself French, sign language, and the piano because I love to learn and someday I want to be like Phil at the end of the movie “Groundhog Day” and have a million skills and bits of wisdom. I plan to learn the guitar, learn where every country in the world is on the map, and everything there is to know about Charles Dickens. Then I am going to learn to garden and how to Irish Dance. I may even go back to school someday. I might be 70 when I do it. I don’t care. You are never too old to learn something new and be something new.
My passions and interests probably don’t seem that exciting to the average person, but I live with panic disorder so just going to the grocery store can be an adrenaline trip for me. Sky-diving isn’t necessary. I can settle into calmer, quieter passions. That is what I crave.
What do you crave? What is your passion? Spending time with those questions can be a catalyst for a whole new life.
Whether I live to be 45 or 105, if my mind holds up to the end, you can bet there will be a notebook on my nightstand with all of my short-term and long-term goals.
As much as it is within my power, I will not let my light die before I do.
Don’t treat your age like the time on a slow-moving stopwatch that is constantly reminding you of how much closer you are to the finish line. How depressing is that?
It’s not only depressing, its oppressing!
No matter what your age, live as if you are going to live forever and do things that make you happy and feel energized and passionate about life. If you don’t have anything in your life that makes you feel that way, then go find it!
I’m not saying you have to have fifty irons in the fire like I do, but find at least one thing that keeps your passion for life alive. There is always something out there to be passionate about, no matter what limitations age may bring your way. Don’t be afraid to go look for it. Always have a dream. Always aspire. Don’t do what’s expected of somebody “your age”. Just do you and leave your age out of it. Period.
Betty White’s 94th birthday was yesterday and she inspired me to write this post. She is such an amazing example of somebody who has never let her age define her or limit her.
I also found inspiration in this article about people who became very successful in life, but not until middle age. Some of the names may surprise you!
Best wishes.
AnnaLisa Scott
TheWorryGames.com
Header Photo: Permission granted by ShutterStock
Hi Lisa! I love this post. I just found you from the meet and greet! I am 41 going on 42 and love your outlook. I also love that you are teaching yourself French and want to learn the guitar. I have been TRYING to learn French, off and on…tricky with everything else going on but I want to fit that in too. Just doing something to pursue it…we love France and I have been twice. I told myself before we go back I want to at least be able to say some key phrases. My husband can get us around (he was a french minor) so no my accent will never be right but I love thinking about recommitting to learning it. I look forward to following you!
Hi Nerissa. Thanks for the kind words. How wonderful that you have been to France twice. I am a bit of a nervous flyer so I am not sure that I will ever be able to go..plus with having five kids it makes it tough…but maybe French speaking Canada? lol I do love the language and culture though. Thank you so much for stopping by and I will be by to check your blog out soon. 🙂
I know this was quoted in the comments already but it’s so good: “life is not about whether the spotlight is shining on you. It’s about the light that comes from you.”
That needs to be on a T-shirt or something. ?
I resonate with this article so much. Turning 30 was my pivotal point. I told myself I was too old to keep making excuses and missing out on the life I wanted.
I didn’t want to let fear be the driving force or main character in my story. I wanted to live in my terms.
I’ve got enough regret in the earlier chapters of my life, I’m willing to do my best to ensure I don’t have anymore.
Loved this post. As always, thank you for sharing it with us readers.
Thanks Aaron. I might be able to get that on a T-shirt. lol But do you want to know something else about being 43? Every time I think of reading something, I automatically think to myself “Am I going to need my reading glasses for that?” They don’t tell you about the whole reading glasses thing when you are in your 20’s and 30’s. It took me by complete surprise, let me tell you! lol
I too have a lot of regret from the first half of my life. Regret is a powerful motivator, is it not? As is the fear of regret. But at least we get the message now, and that’s the important thing!
Just wanted you to know that I am new to the blog and this piece was fantastic. I have been through much of what you have as far as anxiety is concerned – still working on acceptance- and also I am 41 yo. Perfect article for me at a time when I am thinking about reinvention. Keep up the fantastic work. I will visit regularly for more inspiration.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I am glad you liked the post and I wish you well on your reinvention. I don’t even know you and I am excited for you! Let me know how its going sometime!
Yet another illuminating post. I’m on the brink of 30, yet I feel 17. Age really is just a number. I feel stronger, smarter, and healthier now than I ever did in my 20’s.
As we grow older, time provides us with more things to look back on. Nostalgia grows deeper and some memories fade. I used to want to stop time, but then I realized that those “awesome” moments would become boring if I kept living them over and over again.
Thanks for posting! Truly awesome work.
Thanks Josh. My 20’s…ugh. Definitely a “practice” round for me. Glad I learned from it. You seem to have used yours wisely though. ;
0)
My 20’s were productive in many ways, but beyond anxiety, I don’t remember doing anything. It was all anxiety all the time. A bit sad.
I can relate to that. My twenties were full of anxiety as well. I don’t miss those days at all.
“It’s about the light that comes from you……your spirit, the energy that you`put out into the world’
Love that! I’ll be 43 in a little over a month and i’m just now discovering myself again. The mom role took over for a long time. The last time I had this much time to focus this much attention on myself I was 23. TWENTY-THREE! Ha! It’s been a bit tricky, but I’m finding my way and it feels great.