Today was my birthday. Before this year, I raced into each birthday, excited for the additional year’s experience that lay ahead of me, wrinkles be damned.
This year, however, my body started to crap out on me in drips and dribbles… a mysteriously inflating calf, migraines, vertigo, Baker’s Cysts… I suddenly understood why old people only ever talk about what’s broken. Because everything breaks.
Oh, don’t get my wrong. I’m not depressed to be another year older (beats the alternative!), but as I head into this year, I’m appreciative for what my body still CAN do, and I’m determined to maintain it as best I can.
I hit yoga twice today and during savasana I found myself giving thanks – not only for my health in general, but also for these specific things:
- For being able to walk 25+ miles per week without thinking about it.
- For not needing to change my underwear every time I sneeze.
- For still having only my own teeth in my mouth.
- For not having mysterious moles (with hair sprouting out of them) popping up on my chin.
- For still finding bras that fit me.
- And for still having the sense to not consider my waistband a bra.
- For not truly knowing what a hot flash is yet.
- For still being years away from finding adult diapers anything but funny.
pithypants 
I think I might be on the cusp of a few of those, but I’m trying to hold out! Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! Im a little too close for comfort to some of those you mentioned, but hope to live in ignorance as long as possible!
How do you think I arrived at this list? Unfortunately, there have been a few close calls.
Happy birthday! And I loved your look on the bright side observations!
Happy birthday! I thought of you last week when the backs of my knees started hurting during a 5K. A 5K. Ridiculous. Anyway, here’s to many more years of relatively good health and those bones and tendons and ligaments holding up… even if it’s just barely!
Happy Birthday! Consider wearing a brightly colored boa–it does wonders for your inner imp and hides all kinds of neck wrinkles! 😉
Thanks. I’m taking a page from Diane Keaton’s book… gloves and scarves. I figure if I start it before I turn 40, people won’t realize what I’m up to.
Liked the post, hope the things listed don’t hit you for a long time 🙂
Me too. And how…
Happy Birthday to you! I remember when I was younger, I used to think older people were so full of it – it never occurred to me that they were all saying the same things, so it must be the truth. Then I hit my late 20’s and my vision started to go. In my 30’s it was my back first and eventually my knees. Now I’m in my 40’s and saying those same things to the “kids” in their 20’s.
Right? It’s depressing. That’s how I know I’m about to start peeing every time I sneeze. From here on out, it’s only black pants, people.