Humbling (at 58)
Tomorrow is my birthday. I will turn 58. I am not who I was 30 years ago, or even 10 years ago. And while the phrase ‘over the hill’ could easily have applied several years ago, the implications of getting older are less easy to ignore as time does its work—not only on my body, but also on my mind and spirit. As for my body, I have come to realize just how much vanity has (working towards ‘had’) a hold on me. It’s shameful, really. The amount of time and energy I have spent thinking about how I look—whether meeting society’s expectations, how I compare with my counterparts, on and on ad nauseam. My hair has mostly faded from its darker strawberry blond tones to a light grey/blond. The past year has me feeling grateful for the abundance of locks I’ve always had since now I am shedding them like a dog in the late summer heat. (Hah!) Wrinkles have gathered and skin tone is rather lack luster these days despite the amount or type of lotion I use. The veins in my hands and legs ...
