As I Embrace Aging, I Find Joy in Every Year

home insemination Kit

“Tell me, what do you intend to do with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary Oliver

A decade ago, I called my grandmother to wish her a happy 80th birthday. She chuckled and replied, “Oh, Ellie. I don’t feel 80.” At the time, I had just turned 30 and was only beginning to understand the passage of time. Yet, I could relate to her sentiment: In our hearts, we often remain young.

Now, as I approach 40, I feel that truth even more profoundly. I don’t experience this milestone the way I expected. Aging is turning out to be quite different from what I imagined.

Of course, the signs of aging are evident—there’s that crease on my forehead, the skin on my arms succumbing to gravity, the gray hairs that seem to sprout overnight, and an increasing preference for comfy shoes. But these changes reflect my body, not my essence. I’m committed to staying healthy and making the most of my body’s capabilities, but I know it will age and eventually cease to function. We all face this reality, even if we prefer not to dwell on it.

Recently, I spent time with my grandmother, who is now nearly 90, and I could see her frustration at how her aging body struggles to keep up with her youthful spirit. I completely understand. At 40, I still feel like a “young woman.” The years may affect our bodies, but they don’t diminish our spirits.

This intertwining of physical and spiritual selves can lead us to cling to our youth, trying to halt the inevitable. Some of this desire stems from a fear of mortality, while other parts come from society’s obsession with youth and a genuine wish to align our outer appearance with our inner selves.

However, I refuse to spend my one wild and precious life trying to stop the river of time. Instead, I want to ride its currents, enhancing my navigation skills while soaking in all the beautiful scenery. Time is fleeting, and I’d rather embrace living fully than attempt to deceive myself or others about aging. Death doesn’t frighten me; the thought of not truly living does.

Beauty can be a tricky concept to navigate. I once read about a woman who didn’t smile for 40 years to avoid wrinkles—how sad is that? Our faces tell the story of our lives. Laugh lines show a life filled with joy, making aging beautiful. Admittedly, I’m not fond of my concentration line, as it makes me look a bit cranky, so I do try to minimize it. Yet, even that line speaks volumes about who I am—a reflective soul, a caring mother, and a writer wrestling with the chaos in my mind. I don’t despise the lines on my face; they contribute to my story.

The visible signs of aging don’t negate a youthful spirit; rather, they narrate our experiences. Viewed through this lens, our outer selves align beautifully with our inner selves. The marks of time—lines, wrinkles, and gray hair—are simply reminders of our humanity, full of mystery and wonder. They hold the beauty of the stories we’ve lived and the lessons we’ve learned.

As I celebrate another year of life, I feel the fear of aging dissipate. Who has time for that? We all grow old, but we can choose our approach. I choose to age gracefully, live joyfully, and embrace my age—with all its drooping skin and wisdom.

If you’re interested in exploring more about home insemination, check out this excellent resource on artificial insemination and consider visiting Make a Mom for their authority on the topic. And to discover more about navigating this journey, you can read about it in our other blog post here: Intracervical Insemination.

In summary, aging can be a beautiful journey if we choose to embrace it with grace and joy. Our physical changes tell our unique stories, reminding us of the richness of life experiences.