Today is my birthday. I am 60 years old.
It’s hard to believe I’ve done 30 years twice. Sixty is 20 three times which seems like a lot or 40 less than 100 which doesn’t seem so much. And even though it’s a number, it’s my number. A number that makes me very aware of where I’ve been; where I am; and where I’m going.
I remember turning 30 and wanting to use my words to inspire others to find their best self, to motivate, and to somehow change the world. At 60 I realize I’m still chasing that dream.
As I stepped into the cool Northeast Georgia air this morning, I felt hints of autumn – very much the season of my life. The leaves are starting to tint and I no longer feel a part of spring or summer. There is a defining moment when the years ahead are much shorter than the ones behind. The whole “less is more” seems more real than ever, and at sixty I’ve learned life doesn’t turn out the way we thought, and that is ok.
My husband likes to say we are in the “if-not-now-then-when” era of our lives. And as I type these words, the hands before me do not look at all like mine.
I’ve changed more diapers than I care to count, taxied children to soccer games, ballet practices, cheerleading, swim meets, and cooked more meals than a Waffle House cook. I’ve married twice. Welcomed grandchildren. Said goodbye to people I’ve loved. And learned that family is a fluid word that has nothing to do with DNA. I’ve written books, columns, blogs, news. Hosted a radio talk show. Traveled. And still love to stretch out on my front lawn and look at the stars.
When I put it all together, there is this movement within my soul to push forward harder than ever before, using all the successes and failures, the losses and the gains, the brokenness and the rebuilding that have accumulated over the past 60 years. It’s recognizing that the pain of the past is just as much a part of who I am as the joy. It’s understanding that wisdom doesn’t come from a degree but arrives slowly from day-to-day living it out. It’s about being present and trying to make where I find myself a better place for those in it.
In this new year of life, I know that every day, I have to choose to grow, move forward, and enjoy the people in my life and the views around me.
This is sixty.
Related: At 50, I am enough
