Tomorrow is my birthday. Again. Wasn’t my last one just yesterday? As I age, the years seem to fly by faster and faster. And people look younger and younger. Is that baby-faced bride really old enough to be getting married? Is that clean-cut young man, who looks younger than my boys, seasoned enough to be my new physician? I don’t recognize the face staring back at me from the mirror. In my mind’s eye, the image is way more youthful.
The year my oldest son turned forty, I teased him about getting older. He responded by reminding me that I would soon be eligible for Medicare. Ouch! When did I get so old? It just kind of snuck up on me. I mentioned it to my mother, but she was none too sympathetic. My parents are in their nineties. Age is relative and all in your perspective.
The New Year is often a time of reflection and goal setting. My birthday is almost smack dab in the middle of the year, so it’s a good time to check in and reevaluate my progress. How am I doing personally? What have I accomplished professionally? The two are often intertwined.
Admittedly, I’ve gotten distracted by my volunteer projects and cute grandchildren, and my writing hasn’t progressed as much as I’d like. But my time has been devoted to good things, and I need to extend myself some grace. Life gets in the way sometimes, but we have the opportunity to reset and recommit. And move forward once again.
