Tuesday, December 21, 2010

And Another Birthday Approaches

Tomorrow is my birthday and for the first time in a long while I'm not dreading seeing the years add up. Granted I always deal better with 'even' birthday years than 'odd' ones but I don't think that's the reason for my unusual celebratory mood this go round. This year I got some very nice news just before my birthday hit(hope to share more soon) plus my mom is continuing her recovery and now Daughter One has returned home from university and I'm just feeling a bit more celebratory all around. But I think it's also just becoming more used to the whole 'aging' thing and appreciating that the alternative isn't a heck of a lot better!

Now, don't get me wrong. Nobody wants to see their face sliding into their neck or anything and I use a boatload of creams and moisturizers like the next girl. It's not the physical side of aging that I've come to terms with (in fact I've done something to the muscles in my neck that are just killing me today and I'm popping Robaxacet like it's candy) but it's more about enjoying and appreciating the mental aging. I just feel very comfortable with where my head's at these days. And I attribute that to discovering my passion for writing over eight years ago.

Writing has been my own personal fountain of youth - and not just because I write for teens (though I think that helps). It has allowed me to experience so many different things, meet so many different people, hope for so many different futures. Even with all the waiting, even with all the agony of writing books that sometimes go nowhere, even with the fickleness of the business, discovering writing relatively later in my life has given me new energy and, a lot of times, just more 'fun'.

So, with another birthday approaching, I'm embracing the coming year and looking forward to what new things I'll learn and what new people I'll meet. I know there'll be crappy days but with age, hopefully, comes some wisdom and I think I'm weathering those crappy days with a little more perspective every year. Each birthday is a gift and I plan on celebrating every one of them now instead of dreading them. Now if only my face would stay where I want it to... :)

8 comments:

  1. When I was a teen I scoffed at the statement that wisdom comes with age. But really, it's wisdom comes with life experiences which just happens to correspond with age. Can't wait to hear your good news!

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  2. Thanks, Laura. It's so very true, isn't it? The more life throws at you the more wisdom you accumulate. And I hope I can share my news soon!

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  3. You are one of the most beautiful people I know, inside and out, and the years only make you more interesting, insightful and imaginative. I love you, Nelsa! Hope you have an amazing day!

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  4. Thanks, Steph! ((hugs)) You know I thank the heavens daily that I freaked out one birthday year and took up writing. You are one of those special people I met because of it. A CP who turned into one of my closest friends. Yup. Birthday freakouts can be good things, people.

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  5. Hope you have lots of fun on your birthday, Nelsa!

    -- Barb (Owl on Verla's, boreal owl on LJ)

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  6. Thanks so much, Barb! I plan on eating lots of one of my favourite foods - Chinese - and hopefully seeing The King's Speech (with one of my favourite actors, Colin Firth!)

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  7. Happy Birthday! May your day involve indulging in all your favorite goodies. :)

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  8. Thanks so much, Linda! I'm surprisingly upbeat today. Could be because I'm going to have a lovely Dim Sum lunch with a good friend and seeing The King's Speech with Colin Firth tonight. What more can a girl ask for?

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