A Little Older, A Little Wiser | Reflecting On My 38th Birthday

I never really thought that getting old would bother me…until I started to get older. I feel like each year goes by faster than the last and my next big milestone birthday, the big 4-0 is looming just 2 years away. I celebrated my 38^th birthday this week (March 24th, to be exact) and while I don’t feel 38, I do feel like I have so many things that I thought I would have achieved by this age that I still haven’t.

But birthdays are also a great time to reflect on all the things I have achieved and all the things I’m grateful for. And there are definitely a lot of important things that I’ve learned that you only find out with time and experience.

*this post contains affiliate links*

I’m Healthy, That’s All That Counts

While I have a good many years to go before I have to worry about real age-related issues, like my dad’s osteoarthritis (fingers crossed I don’t inherit this one!) I’m really lucky to be in good health.

While I still don’t get to exercise nearly as much as I’d like (exercise goal: 5 days per week, actual exercise: 0), I can pick up some weights or jump on the treadmill without having to worry about a bad back or aching joints.

I also have more knowledge about fitness and nutrition in general and have made huge changes to what I eat, when I eat and why I’m eating it.

Healthier eating habits have been especially important for me in managing my weight, avoiding diabetes and improving my fertility as well as other the other negative side effects that come from PCOS. Overall, good health is so important and I definitely don’t take mine for granted.

 

I Know Who I Am And I’m Good With That

What’s gotten better with age? Definitely my confidence. Being super shy and introverted made me extremely uncomfortable meeting new people and trying new things.

I’m still super shy and introverted, but I’ve come to a point in my life where I know who I am, what I like and what I don’t like and worry less about what others think of me or the things I can’t control.

I no longer get hung up on trying to be what I think everyone wants me to be and have become comfortable with the idea that I won’t be able to please everyone all the time. I’m also a mom now, so I really don’t have time to worry about such trivial things, because taking care of my girls is just so much more important.

I’ve definitely had to revisit my life goals and change them over time, because nothing ever turns out like you plan it, right?

But sometimes unexpected changes can lead to greater things, so I’ve learned to keep my mind more open and have gained a bit more patience in my old age (although I’m still impatient as hell).

 

My Body’s Not Perfect, But I Can Handle It

I can remember being 18 years old, 110 pounds and a size 3 and thinking to myself at that time “my thighs are too fat.” Fast forward to today, I’m 38, 155 pounds and a size 8 and I now think “what an idiot – what the hell was I complaining about back then?”

Anyone have a time machine handy so I can go back and slap the hell out of my 18-year-old self? Ughh, teenagers, right?

The reality is that getting older and becoming more comfortable with myself has helped me to feel better about my body, extra inches and all.

While yes, it’s still a work in progress (I’d like to drop the 15 pounds I gained from having kids) I’m actually more confident about my body and my overall style now than I was all those years ago.

I know what works for me and what doesn’t and while you won’t find me walking down the street in a bikini any time soon (I still hate my thighs), I can deal with what I’ve got going on body-wise, extra curves and all.

 

What epiphanies have you discovered as you got older?