7 Things Getting Older Has Taught Me About Life, Acceptance, and Happiness

1. I Love the Way I Look

When I was younger, I used to agonize over my … well, my less-than-A-cup chest. I used to dream about how wonderful my life would be if I were only a B-cup… the parties I’d attend, the bikini tops I’d wear. I even briefly considered breast augmentation surgery. Now that I’m older, I couldn’t care less. I love my body, and I love the way I look. Confidence and self-acceptance are attractive, far sexier than any one feature of your body, so I’ve stopped picking apart my appearance, and I’ve never been happier with it. Research on self-acceptance, such as articles featured on Psychology Today, shows that genuine confidence comes from embracing who you are.

2. I Can Survive Anything

In 2008, within just a few weeks, my husband of 6 years left me for a much younger (and dumber) woman, and I lost my job. At first, I was panicked - where would I live? How would I support myself and our daughter? After the initial shock and panic wore off (it only took about three hours), I pulled myself together, prepared the paperwork to file for divorce (myself, without an attorney), and started gathering my resources. Had I been a younger, less experienced woman, I may not have known how to move on so quickly. Rebounding well, item #2 getting older has taught me! It also helped me appreciate my mother's wisdom during hard times.

3. My Mother is the Smartest Person I Know

When I was little, my mother knew EVERYTHING. When I was a teenager, she knew NOTHING. I was surprised she got to be as old as she was with as little as she knew about life! Now that I’m older, of course now I see just how brilliant, patient and wonderful she is. How else could she have dealt with such a surly, wretched teenager as me?

4. Every Day Matters

The older I get, the more I realize how valuable every day of my life is. I never miss an opportunity to tell my daughters how much I love them, because, well, I’ve lost enough loved ones to know how suddenly it can end. So before I hang up the phone, every time, I say “I love you,” and I mean it. This constant reminder ties directly into valuing time over money.

5. Time is Worth More than Money

Why spend another minute in a relationship or job that you hate? Even if your job pays well, it’s not worth the misery. No-one on their death bed ever said “I wish I would have worked more,” and you certainly can’t take money with you when you die. Health experts at Harvard Health consistently emphasize that work stress and burnout take a heavy toll on long-term well-being.

6. Bathing is Better than Showering

While I really do think taking a hot bath is much more relaxing and luxurious than a quick shower, what I really mean is that it’s the small choices we make that we can use to treat ourselves. Make at least one small decision every day to pamper or reward yourself. I mean it! Every day! Burn that gorgeous candle, eat those truffles, wear that cashmere sweater - why save them? Enjoy them, or better yet, share them, today!

Here are simple daily ways to treat yourself:

7. Use It or Lose It

When I was younger, I loathed exercise. Why walk or bike when I can just drive? But now that I’m a little older, the gym is one of my havens, a place I am good to my body, and it rewards me. The message? Take care of your body, because you’ll need it. Exercise. Eat well. Check in with your doctor. Take care of yourself! You’re my favorite reader!

According to physical wellness guidance from Mayo Clinic, staying active is vital for long-term mobility and vitality. Beyond fitness, it is all part of loving the way you look and feel.

Essential daily wellness habits:

These are just a few of the important things I’ve learned in my life so far (add to it that pizza before bed is a spectacularly bad idea). I can’t wait to see what the next forty years will teach me… I promise I’ll write another article then, too! What have you learned as you’ve gotten older? Do you agree with any or all of these? Please share!