Aging and Other Inevitable Stuff

So, I made it to the Big 4-0 without incident, no apocolypse or anything, and it actually hasn't been that bad. I admit, I was a bit self-absorbed about it for a minute..even thinking that when my birthday came, I would somehow be branded with a sign in my forehead that said "YOU ARE SO DAMN OLD". But none of that happened, and it was actually one of the best birthdays of my entire life. Something else happened to me, though on that day that I find much more valuable and worth it than ever being as shallow as worrying about getting older. I realized that getting older means that I am still ALIVE, and with being alive comes the opportunity to follow every hope and possibility that life has to offer. I can still pursue my dream of writing, of becoming a counseling psychologist, of being financially independent, of marrying the man of my dreams, etc., etc. And it also means that I know things that are not only beneficial, but that also serve to make my time here on this earth that much more interesting, which are things I didn't quite get in my 20's and 30's. For example:

I understand the benefits waiting for what's AUTHENTICALLY good, instead of rushing for what APPEARS to be good, in any situation.

I get that having fun doesn't necessarily mean that tons of money needs to be spent, but relates more to the company that I'm keeping.

I know that it makes no sense to buy a $500 designer handbag just so I can say I have an "original" when I can just go get a knock-off at the flea market for $40 bucks that looks exactly the same (and for the record, the original is only the very FIRST bag made, so even if you spend $500, you STILL aren't getting an "original" Prada, Louis, etc.)

I value the fact there is no glamour in having a "thug" and that a good "nice" man is worth his weight in GOLD.

I understand that a woman's worth in the big scheme of things is not measured by her dress size, bust size, or her wardrobe, but by the condition of her heart (and I also understand that anyone who thinks it is measured by the first things I mentioned, is someone who will make me run like the devil in the OPPOSITE direction!)

I learned the importance of a woman having her own mind, her own dreams and visions, and her own sence of importance instead of letting another person set the standard for her own life.

So all in all, this aging stuff is actually quite a positive thing...yes it may bring about some grey hairs that we didn't see coming, it may slow us down a bit, and it may make us look for that table to sit at at the club as opposed to being able to stand up and dance for 7 hours straight, but more importantly, if we are paying attention and learning, it brings about the two greatest and most precious gifts of all:

WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's to all my precious sista girls in the 40's club...this one's for YOU girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)