Aging

Image by anncapictures from Pixabay 

When I hit middle age, I vowed not to fight the aging process with cosmetics or surgery. I would accept the physical changes and move on. I did, however, keep lightening my hair until two years ago. With another birthday bringing me closer to 70, I decided it was time to let my hair return to its natural color.

To avoid the usual awkward grow-out, I asked my hairdresser to match my roots. She argued against it. The dark color would be too much of a change, but I insisted. She eventually agreed it was a good choice. After the initial shock, everyone liked the new/old color, even my husband. And the newer “platinum” highlights blended in well.  

Now, with my hair all natural, the next step was to update all my online profiles, but I procrastinated, unhappy with the new photos. Vanity? Maybe, but none of the pictures looked like the woman I saw in the mirror. Finally, I have a decent photo. I still wish I could lose more weight first, but at my age, that is a long, hard-fought battle. I’ve lost 10 pounds since November, but I still have more to go. However, in the meantime, I need to prepare friends had family who haven’t seen me in the last two years for the change in my appearance. (Hair color mostly). So, I sucked it up and changed all my profiles.

I am not ashamed of my age (now one birthday away from 70) and, for the most part, don’t dwell on the number. I’m thankful for that multitude of years. Too many never make it this far, and there is so much more life yet to live. More paintings to paint, books to write, people to meet, and adventures to experience.

Speaking of writing, this is my newest project, besides an almost finished oil painting of an old mill.  

Evie 

Evie Walsh is a member of The Gifted, an ancient race of supernatural beings humans have been led to believe are extinct. Evie’s gift allows her to watch events in exact detail as they are unfolding. She uses this ability to assist law enforcement with hostage rescue, finding the lost or missing, and many other dangerous situations — until her secret becomes too well known. Questions will be asked, putting her and all The Gifted in danger.

Only one organization offers her protection while utilizing her clairvoyance, but can they offer enough protection, and can she trust them? 

How about you? Is there one birthday that was harder to accept? Or does your age not bother you? Do you have new projects on the horizon? Do share! 

Transitions

Photo by S. Herman & S. Richter at Pixabay

This time of year heralds several kinds of transitions. We change seasons, begin the winter holidays, and colleges and schools have resumed. For me it brings another transition. 

Being a December baby, my birthday is fast approaching, propelling me closer to another milestone and more age-related changes.

 Besides the extra pounds I am trying to shed, I had to give up wearing foundation. Unless I use a primer, it accentuates the fine wrinkles, and I don’t want to spend the extra money, nor do I like the feel of the heavy creams on my skin. (My sweet husband regards the sunspots as freckles, and although I’ve tried enlightening him, it’s more fun to go along.)

The next change is my hair. I’ve tinted it a shade lighter than my natural color for years. I intended to stop after I retired, but my husband and my hairdresser encouraged me to continue. Plus, all the compliments I received on my hair stoked my vanity enough to continue with the hassle. ( I do my own hair coloring.)

But the woman I see in the mirror is well passed her sixtieth birthday, and it's time to tone down more than just the makeup. 

It won’t be a fast transition as it’s best to let the color grow out gradually, which will test both my resolve and my patience, but no transition happens overnight. Whether it’s weight loss, changing unwanted behaviors, or going back to my natural hair color, the results will be worth the effort.

   

At least that is what I tell myself during the struggle, it will be worth it, and I am sure I’ll have to repeat that more than once.

It's Finally Happened

Photo by RitaE from Pixabay

This week I realized I can no longer remember when I last changed the sheets on the bed or descaled the coffee pot. I used to keep all that straight without writing having to write it down. Is it age related or the result of being retired and no longer adhering to any kind of schedule?

My self-control has gone the same way as my memory, particularly with my diet. In that regard I need accountability, so back to the old-fashioned food log. Experts say that is the most reliable way to watch the calories. I know they are right, but I didn’t want to bother. My last weigh-in tells me I’d better do something.

In some ways, this is the best time of my life, and yet other things have slipped. But I guess that’s life. It’s never perfect.

Armed with my check lists and food log I’ve gained some control. Keeping it simple ensures I’ll stick to it. I like the fact I no longer need to commit everything to memory and worry about forgetting something, but I miss the days when it was all automatic, with no effort involved.

I also miss being able to marathon house or yardwork and afterward do anything else I wanted. Now, I need to parcel out my tasks or deal with exhaustion and low blood sugar.

But since I’ll never see twenty again, or even sixty for that matter, I must adjust, adapt, and go on. That’s okay because I still have a life, one not complicated at the moment by anything other than a failing memory and a lack of self-control.

Could be much worse, and I’ve been there.

So, no complaints, just the hard admission that age is catching up, and I have no control over it, except how I react.

Dear Lord, thank you for giving me life, and help me come to terms with its flaws and challenges. Amen.

Who Doesn't Like October?

October is one of the most popular months. Who does not like the vivid array of colors, the cooler days, pumpkins, and harvest moons? Then, there are the corn mazes, fresh pressed apple cider, and harvest parties. 

This month is the prelude to the onslaught of the holidays, a pause between summer and winter. We catch our breath before gearing up for the busier season to follow. 

Change. Seasons change. Weather changes and we change. It is inevitable. Some we welcome, like the seasons, others we fight. This struggle does not delay or alter the change. It only causes more stress and conflict, fighting a battle we cannot win.

Since entering the Golden Years, I have seen many changes. The world is certainly not the same as it was in my childhood. Some changes were for the better, others not. The political and spiritual unrest is disheartening as well as frightening. Then, there are the more pronounced changes in my physical appearance. I may be able to skip the news for several days, but my body continues to remind me of my age. 

I decided after some careful reflection, (pun intended), not to worry about my physical changes. I am aging, and there is not any cosmetic trick, or surgery, that will disguise it. It might camouflage it to some degree, but we’ve all seen the sad sight of women who go to extremes in their search for eternal youth. The result is rarely what they hoped. At this age, less is definitely more, and it is better to accept the changes and move on to things that are more important. 

For me, I would rather count my blessings than bemoan things I cannot change or control. For a perfectionist, that’s the same as an alcoholic admitting they have a drinking problem. Perhaps I had to live the changes before I understood how little control I have. I suppose experience does give the age a little more wisdom than youth, if we choose to learn from them rather than fight against them. 

And so, I look forward to this new season and plan to enjoy each moment. Winter storms will be here soon enough, but God is already there. With Him walking beside me, I can accept the changes in the weather, and in my life, with some dignity and peace. After all, letting go, accepting what I cannot change, and giving it to God, is the wisest of all choices.  

It's That Time of Year Again

This is sunrise from my office window, dawning a new day, a new month, and a new year. Was it a good year? Did I do what I had hoped, what I had planned?

I have to say it was a good year in terms of memorable events. Two more grand babies were born, one in June and one in September. Then in August the biggest life change, retirement.