So this year I turn the big 4-0. There was a time when I didn’t think I’d live to be 40, much less worry about the prospect of “aging.” However, I not only live much differently now; I think differently. For example, when I was a child I’d listen to the adults talking about how your body “falls apart” once you turn 40. The mind goes and the body goes and it’s it’s just this inevitable, undeniable decline. The worst part is, there’s nothing you can do about it. If you buy into that (totally false) mindset, which I once did- then the passing of the years will undoubtedly feel more like a curse than a blessing.
Then I discovered epigenetics.
That is, in very simple terms, how we can alter our genes like an on/off switch based on the life choices we make. Exercise, diet, sleep and stress management all play a large role in how well- or poorly we age. To me, this is extremely powerful and uplifting!
I think too many of us get caught up in our DNA; namely our hereditary health risks. Don’t get me wrong, genetic predispositions are serious and not to be taken lightly, but most of us have more say over our overall health than we realize or take credit for. And, in my family, liver cancer is an issue- but I can’t determine if that’s because of lifestyle choices ( my mom and grandfather had a drinking problem), or because there’s something being “passed down” that I should be aware of. What I do know is that at 39, I feel better than I did when I was in my twenties.
One interesting thing I’ve noticed is that the older I get, the less I care about what other people think. That is a beautiful thing! I’m more comfortable being in public with no makeup on- I used to do my makeup just to check the mail! I drive a car that’s multi-colored due to an accident I got into a couple years ago and it doesn’t bother me at all. I remember when I bought that car and felt such a sense of pride because it was almost new and I felt like something special when I drove it. Now it’s the farthest thing from a status symbol, and I will drive it into the ground because I refuse to be defined by material things. My husband and I used to go to wine tastings and I’d get all dressed up. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to look nice, but I wanted people to think I had money; that I was somebody important because I always had that underlying notion that I wasn’t good enough. Now I rarely shop for clothes, and I prefer to look “casual.” The irony is that I have more money now than I did when I was trying so hard to impress other people.
I think it’s sad that so many of us dread getting older instead of reflecting on what we’ve learned /gained over the years. Women especially are sensitive about being asked their age, and men often times are expected to have a mid-life crises somewhere between the ages of 40-60. Of course none of us are immune to wear and tear on our bodies- that just comes with the territory. But it is possible that we can thrive as we get older. Our bodies fall apart when we set that process in motion.
When we live well, our bodies thank us by keeping us looking and feeling younger than our chronological age. And let me tell you-that makes me look forward to the future and all the biohacking knowledge that will be available then! For now, I’m grateful for all that I’ve experienced. Whether I have fifty more years on this great planet of ours or one more day, rest assured, I will be making the most of it!