10 Reasons Why Being 57 Is So Awesome

Since there are so many people around me suffering from age crisis (a 55-year-old and a 19-year-old, to name a few) I have recently been thinking about my own age quite a bit. I am 57. It sounds like a lot of years. They say that 50 is the new 30. I say that 50 is still 50, too, and that's alright.
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Since there are so many people around me suffering from age crisis (a 55-year-old and a 19-year-old, to name a few) I have recently been thinking about my own age quite a bit. I am 57. It sounds like a lot of years. They say that 50 is the new 30. I say that 50 is still 50, too, and that's quite alright.

Here are my 10 reasons why being 57 is not only alright, but can be quite awesome, too.

1. While there are some things I cannot do because of my age, there are so many more I still can. It is too late to start a career as a ballerina, become a brain surgeon or ... I cannot think of a third one. Oh yes -- I cannot get pregnant. But I can still blog and even write books (done). I can start a business (done). I can sleep late in the mornings if I feel like it (doing it). I can listen to Barry White without being embarrassed (okay, I am a little embarrassed) but most importantly I can still dream.

2. My period has stopped and I cannot get pregnant. Yay! This one is so obvious it needs no further elaboration.

3. I read from somewhere that the secret of happy old age is to adopt the role of an old wise person in your community. I immediately decided I wanted to become a wise old woman. There seems to be a demand for someone like that among the younger generation. I am happy I can be of service and share what I have learned. Trust me, the older you get, the more attention the youngsters pay to what you say. Especially if instead of talking to people, you blog what you want to say.

4. I don't have to live up to anyone's expectations because I don't think anyone expects anything much of me anymore. It is marvelous. I can do whatever I want and whatever I do, people seem to be surprised that I still got it done.

5. Julianne Moore is only two years younger than me and she looks stunning. Jane Fonda is 20 years older than me and she looks stunning. I just listened to the 74-year-old Aretha Franklin singing "Natural Woman." She sounded stunning. So, as far as stunningness goes, there is nothing in my age that prevents me from achieving it.

6. Age tells very little about a person. I find it odd that we spend so much time in thinking about age. Also, when we think about our age, what is it we really think about? The number? The time we have spent on this planet? The time we still have on this planet? Our looks? Our age-related health issues? Whatever it is, you probably should not be thinking about it. You are you, whatever your age.

7. Getting older does not only bring losses, it brings gains, too. At this point of my life I have said many goodbyes but I also keep getting increasing chances to say hellos. New people come to my life, I experience new things and life gets more interesting by the day. To put it short: the longer you live, the more you have. Everything.

8. My kids are grown ups. This is a huge one. Grown up kids means I get to spend loads of me-time, instead of being on mommy duty 24/7 like I was for so many years. And let me tell you: babies and toddlers are cute but grown up kids are the best. It is so much fun to see how their lives unfold. My kids are smart, beautiful and independent. Yes they make mistakes but once you realize its not your job to prevent others from benefitting of the learning that comes with failing, you feel quite liberated.

9. I can still enjoy the best life can offer. I can fall in love and it feels just as marvelous as it did when I was younger, as does eating ice cream or walking barefoot on grass early in the morning. There are many juicy things still to experience and there seems to be more time than ever to experience them.

10. I have never felt as free in my life as I do now. I really feel I can fly and touch the sky. Being single, jobless and in financial limbo at my age may sound scary but once you stop resisting what is and realize that having nothing left to lose also means having everything to win, you start living in sweet anticipation of wonderful surprises. And the more you expect them, the more you get them.

My secret to alright and even happy aging is meditation. Seriously. I learned to meditate when I was 55 and boy am I glad I did. Better sooner than later is all I can say. Meditation takes you within, to the sacred place where you can get connected with the Real You. The Real You has many wonderful qualities but one of the best is that she is ageless.

So get still, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths and say hi to the wonderful ageless You.

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