Happy Wednesday,
How are you all doing today? Good, I hope. Things are okay here. I’m still on the crazy train, navigating the rollercoaster ride, but, I know I’m not alone. I’m sure most of you, if not all, are riding some kind of life train too. I’m so glad I have my little Molly. She always cuddles up right next to me, especially when my thoughts are out of control. It’s amazing how a pup can read a person and know when they need to be a little more present for their human.
I know I’ve talked about my aunt and how she went into a permanent skilled nursing facility a few months back and when that happened, her son, my cousin, had sent me this poem or quote that my aunt had with her things. He knows I write this blog and had asked me to maybe share it, so, that’s what I will do today.
“As I grow in age, I value women who are over forty most of all. Here are just a few reasons why: A woman over forty will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, ‘what are you thinking?’ She doesn’t care what you think. If a woman over forty doesn’t want to watch the game, she doesn’t sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do, and it’s usually something more interesting. A woman over forty knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants, and from whom. Few women past the age of forty give a hoot what you might think about her or what she’s doing. Women over forty are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won’t hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it. Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it’s like to be unappreciated. A woman over forty has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends. A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best friend because she doesn’t trust the guy with the other woman. Women over forty couldn’t care less if you’re attracted to her friends because she knows her friends won’t betray her. Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over forty. They always know. A woman over forty looks good wearing bright red lipstick. This is not true of younger women. Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over forty is far sexier than her younger counterpart. Older women are forthright and honest. They’ll tell you right off if you are a jerk, or if you are acting like one! You don’t ever have to wonder where you stand with her. Yes, we praise women over forty for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it’s not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of forty-plus, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some twenty-two-year-old waitress. Ladies, I apologize. For all those men who say, ‘why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free,’ here’s an update for you. Now, 80% of women are against marriage, why? Because women realize it’s not worth buying the entire pig, just to get a little sausage. “-Andy Rooney
As we women age, some of us more gracefully than others, hopefully, we all have grown our thoughts and minds to realize our worth. I hope when we reach the wise old age of 40, we know who we are and we are confident in ourselves.
I’ll be the first to tell you, I don’t wear red lipstick. I’ve always wanted to, but I haven’t gripped confidence enough to do so. Who knows, maybe today I’ll go out and buy myself some red lipstick, for two reasons. One, I’ve always wanted to wear red lipstick, and reason two, because I can.
I’m doing better when I’m alone. I’m okay most of the time, and I’m finally able to walk out my front door and go do something, alone. I’ve never been very good at being alone, so I’m actually embarrassing the confidence it takes to be alone. I do prefer time with John, but let’s face it, he can’t always be with me.
There’s a Bible verse that talks about gray hair. Proverbs 16:31, “gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.” I think so many of us spend our lives trying to defy getting older. We hate our wrinkles, we abhor our gray hair and occasionally our thunder thighs, but in my old age of 53, I’m gonna tell you what I think. I sat with my Granny last week, she’s 94 and in a hospital bed, and for 99.9% of the time, she doesn’t know who her family is. I have an aunt, the aunt who inspired this blog, she’s 68 years old and though she knows my name, she’s not aware of the person in the hospital bed next to her, nor is she aware of reality for parts of her day.
I might not be pretty, I might not be thin, but I’m alive and I got to wake up in my warm bed this morning. I get to putz around the house today, while these women, my granny, and aunt, who are over 40 can’t, won’t, and most likely, never will again. I’m sort of done fighting the aging process. I can’t beat it, so I might as well embrace it, red lipstick and all. Maybe it’s time to enjoy being over 40 and if I tell you you’re a jerk, it’s probably true. If I tell you I don’t give a damn anymore, well, that’s just how life is and I’m done trying to please you.
I’m over 40 and still plugging along. I’ve done the best I could in this life and I’ll hopefully continue to grow in wisdom and I sure hope that I can be as confident as the woman described by Andy Rooney and be able to just say, I don’t give a damn about wrinkles, because they are a sign that I’m alive and that I’ve lived a life, a full life. I have confidence in the man next to me, I trust him, I don’t need to worry about him ever leaving, and if he does, well, that’s his loss. I’ll make sure to hold the door open.
I’ve been unappreciated and I know one thing, it sucks, and that is in part, why I left my last relationship. I have found one amazing man that appreciates me more than I think I deserve, and I am thankful that he sees my flaws and weaknesses, yet he doesn’t hold those against me, he helps me grow into a stronger and more confident woman.
I’m definitely over 40 and that’s okay. I’ve made it this far and that’s a good thing. I don’t know how much more time I have left in this life, nor do I know how much more time I have in my mind, so moving forward, I’m going to make the most of who I am. I’m going to love like I’ve never loved before. I’m going to walk in the rain and I’m going to let go and let God and I’m going to be thankful for the little things and hold onto the man that loves me more than I love myself.
Well, guys, Molly is ready for her puppy walk, so I must say goodbye for now, but hey, do me a favor, tell someone you love them today, and don’t forget, Love Life++
Love Life with Dawna 