Month: May 2015

OOTD20150529

I take a lot of pride in my work. I know when I’ve done something that is really top quality and well done. If someone compliments me effusively on work that I think is “meh”, the compliment leaves me indifferent for the most part. I don’t NEED someone to tell me when I’ve done superior work – I know it and it makes me feel satisfied and proud. But…. When I HAVE done something that I know took a lot of work, a lot of thought, a lot of crafting, then when the person for whom it was done takes the time to recognize that, praise it, and thank me – that takes the good feeling to an even higher level. You need to work for yourself and recognize your own worth, but it’s very very nice to be appreciated by people whom you respect. 🙂

OOTD 20150505

I remember being in high school, bursting into tears, and telling my mother how I never wanted to grow up to be like her and my father. How staid. How conventional. How nowhere. Yeah, my mother didn’t really take it all that well. *grin* That’s what happens when you are an emotional teenage girl (is there any OTHER type of teenage girl??) who listened to Carly Simon’s oh-so-uplifing song “That’s the Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be“.

I am here to tell you that wow – did I have it wrong. Middle age is GREAT. Hanging out with my husband who is also middle-aged (another stupid term by the way) is great. We made it. We’re here. Sure, there were a lot of not-great times, some really really bad times, and some wonderful times. But we’re here now and it’s good. Yes, oh teenage girl of my past. I love being who I am. I know what’s important and what’s not. When to get really upset and when to sigh and let things go. I wear what I want. I think how I want. I make my choices. Obviously there are compromises and there are those nagging icky chores and responsibilities. Those are choices I accepted.

I’ve been thinking this for awhile but a friend plurked this link: What NOT to Wear After Age 50. I saw that and thought – I’ll wear what I darn well please. And indeed, that’s what the article said. We made it to 50. The heck with what anyone else thinks I should wear.

So for all you youngins out there – don’t fret. Middle age is MUCH better than youth. Okay – maybe not the aches and pains and the a-bit-slower-to-stand-from-a-sitting-position. Seriously: Carly Simon had it all wrong. Go ahead. Choose Life that you may live. 🙂 It’s a better path.