There was never a single moment, or a major insight on the days leading to New Year’s, or on a birthday, or a milestone achieved. It was a slow, emerging truth I quit resisting.
I am aging. And that is not a tragedy.
For years, I lamented the softness of my skin and the changing lines of a face I no longer recognized in photographs. I missed the firmness, glow, and smoothness of youth, which wrapped around me like a second skin. I yearned for the girl who moved through the world without realizing the burden she would one day bear.
But now that I’m nearing 50, I see her differently.
I no longer see myself as a lesser version. I am more.
At this age, I have increased knowledge and become more present. I’m more accepting of my flaws. This kind of self-acceptance in midlife didn’t happen overnight: it bloomed slowly, from the roots of every hardship, every choice, every shift in perspective.
With age comes experience, and with experience comes wisdom. These aren’t simply intellectual ideas; they are embodied experiences that influence my creativity. My writing and art are richer today because I’ve lived rather than just relied on techniques. I don’t just write from theory or imagination but from the scars and marvels of real life. I write from the experiences of heartbreaks, little delights, and the gentle discoveries that only time can teach.
As a woman approaching 50, I’ve learned that aging gracefully doesn’t mean staying youthful. It’s about honoring the life I’ve carried. My body has carried life, birthed babies, nursed them through illness, and made room for love, grief, and exhaustion. My skin has experienced both pleasure and suffering. My heart is shattered yet still pulses with hope. I’ve been silent and loud, scared and bold, gentle and hard.
The decision that altered everything wasn’t about reclaiming lost youth but about releasing the need to chase it.
Now, I wear my years like a well-worn sweater: tattered at the edges, stretched in spots, but warm, treasured, and wholly mine.
I struggle with fatigue and aches. Occasionally, I wish I could turn back time. But then I recall what I’ve gained: clarity, discernment, and self-compassion. I’ve gained a deeper, braver love for my body, my truth, and my desires. This is what aging and self-growth look like: forgiving the past versions of myself while stepping fully into this one.
If I’m lucky, I’ll live another 20 to 40 years. Perhaps less. But I no longer pursue time; I walk alongside it.
That was the decision: to embrace aging rather than shy away from it.
And I’ve never felt more alive.
That's it for now. If you read this far, thank you. I appreciate it so much! I'm a non-native English speaker, and English is my third language. Post ideas and content are originally mine.
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What a beautiful life lesson. It seems that in modern society ageing should be a reason for sadness, pain and suffering, when in reality it is a natural process and assuming it is part of life. Youth is exalted, but this is not eternal. Evolving and moving from wanting to please external and stereotyped demands to enhancing our self-esteem and our inner strength is a tough challenge that not everyone is able to achieve. It was comforting to read you, because I am at a similar point and I hope to solve it in the same way. Thank you for sharing it.
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Thank you for the pick and your thoughtful reflection 🙏.You're absolutely right, modern society tends to treat aging like a decline, when really, it’s just another season. Letting go of external validation, especially the pressure to stay youthful or pleasing, has been one of the hardest but most freeing shifts in my life. It means so much to know that this piece resonated with where you are right now. I truly believe we’re not meant to walk these transitions alone, and your words remind me of that too. I hope your journey brings you to a place of softness and strength, just as you're already moving toward.
Yes, those transitional moments are not easy to go through. But when you get to the other side you wonder why you didn't do it before, hehe. Self-acceptance is really starting to live life to the fullest!
I love your article. With today's society being focused on how to stay and look younger, I admire your perception of yourself. We should really aim to age gracefully like a fine wine. ❤️ Age really does come with wisdom.
Thank you so much for reading and for this lovely comment. It really means a lot. Society does push so hard on staying young, sometimes to the point we forget how much beauty there is in simply growing. I love that you said “like a fine wine”, that’s exactly the energy we all should leaning into.
I so agree with what you have written here. Ageing is coming to all of us. You just have to approach it gracefully and accept it heartily. Empathetically, smartly aged, full of wisdom.
Thank you so much for your kind words. Yes aging is something we all move toward, and there’s such power in choosing to meet it with grace instead of resistance. I love how you phrased it: empathetically, smartly aged, full of wisdom. That’s such a beautiful way to look at it. May we all grow into ourselves that way.
Yes, may we age that way despite the chaos around us.
aging*
⋆ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ғᴏʀ sᴏᴜᴛʜᴇᴀsᴛ ᴀsɪᴀɴ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ ᴏɴ ʜɪᴠᴇ
⋆ sᴜʙsᴄʀɪʙᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀsᴇᴀɴ ʜɪᴠᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴛʏ
⋆ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀsᴇᴀɴ ʜɪᴠᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴛʏ ᴠᴏᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʀᴀɪʟ
⋆ ᴅᴇʟᴇɢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ʟɪɴᴋs 25 ʜᴘ⇾50 ʜᴘ⇾100 ʜᴘ⇾500 ʜᴘ⇾1,000 ʜᴘ