I have a big birthday coming up this year. I won’t tell you the number, because there is no way you would EVER think that I could possible be THAT OLD.
But here we are.
I used to bristle a little on the inside when I thought about the impending arrival of this year’s birthday. But suddenly I feel very aware, especially right now in life – of what a privilege it is to grow older. To be here. To be healthy, and to walk in this current season of life. There are hard things, but there is also so much joy.
So, I’m looking ahead with gratefullness.
But there’s still this part of me, that doesn’t quite think I’m where I should be. I mean, have I reached the peak of my life? Is it just downhill from here? After a year of living in the crazy Covid world, spending 7 months in isolation, putting plans on hold, walking through extremely difficult and painful circumstances, seeing dreams end and eating way too many lockdown treats – I look at myself every day in the mirror – and I’m really hoping I’m not past my prime.
I mean, there has to be more ahead right? (inserts nervous laugh)
Have I become all that I’m going to be? (starts eating healthy and buys thick concealer)
Becoming.
It’s a bit of an unusual word. It really means any process of change. But what happens after you change?
Do you suddenly become?
Do you arrive?
Are you ever done?
Maybe no one becomes, and, maybe we all just keep on becoming. Growing from one thing to the next. Good and bad, happy and sad, exciting and solemn. All parts of life lived. And just when you think maybe you’ve arrived, you realize that there’s still so much more to your story. New paths to take, and ways to grow that you never imagined.
Who wants to become anyway?
Arrival is over-rated.
Stopping is boring.
Maybe becoming means your life always flows and goes, and twists and turns, in the glorious mess of who you are meant to be. And, along the way you keep learning all the beautiful ways you’ve been created by your maker, so that you can pour out to others in your journey.
You never arrive, you just grow.
So don’t.
Big birthdays or not,
don’t ever stop becoming.
I’m not sure how old you are but I believe getting older can mean more possibilities…the best years are ahead of you and I’m with you, the process is just as exciting as the outcome.
Happy birthday whenever it is 🙂
Thank you Dan!
Well said, once again. This has been a year of becoming for many people. Sadly some of that is negative, but you are right! It isn’t over! And even negative aspects of becoming can be turned around and made into a beautiful part of our wanderings in this earth. I think of the forest… Even the mud is part of rhe beauty. ♥️
This year both my husband, myself and many friends hit that “magical” ** 50 **. what a disappointment not being able to be with friends in person, unable to celebrate or commiserate depending on which side of the bed you rolled out of or point of view. Could this be the beginning of the end, a turning point, just a half way point or the start of a new season in life that will be different but just as or more fulfilling as the previous 50 years? Kids are leaving home, changes in relationships with adult kids and spouse. Friends becoming grandparents. Instead of celebrating weddings and births we have been emotionally moved by some unexpected deaths this past year, reminding us we are getting to that time in our life where anything can happen and self care is important. Our parents are now in those twilight years and we are sandwiched between. first goals this year are vaccines, second goals are reflection, reassessment and then set some new goals, some shorter term than others because the future is unknown, unpredictable, unstable. I must say though… this past year I have had some really wonderful opportunities to learn, try new things and a couple of great personal challenges and adventures. I am hopeful and looking forward, lots has to do with attitude and 50 could be the start of a new and brilliant time of life that I can focus a little more on me, figure out what and where my new priorities are going to be, where I’m going to spent my time and with less energy spent running around after my now growing up kids, their education and activities. 😉 I will miss these days though.
Love this! Life is always changing, and we keep up the best we can! xo
The joy is in the journey and the best is certainly yet to come! Happy candle day! 🙂
Thank you! xoxo Hope you guys are well
Here’s a verse for you Shelly, “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:4 🙂 I do pass a mirror and then have to do a re-check to determine who I just saw, but you know what… aging can be challenging as well as being abundantly freeing. With much age, comes much wisdom as it says in the Proverbs. The older I get, the more I realize who I am in Christ and how much the things that seemed so important at one time in life really are not. My prayer is that I will grow old with grace and that I will always be young at heart! This was a beautiful writing Shelly and as Ruth Chou Simons says, we become what we behold!
I just saw this comment and I loved it – thank you Susan!
I am a 48 year old melinated male who just had this thought “Don’t Stop Becoming.” run across my mind. instantly made sense. so I do a search and I find this blog. simply amazing universal sign 👐🏾💜♾️