Another year older, another year wiser?
Not necessarily.
The older I get, the clearer it gets that life isn’t black or white. Heck, it isn’t even in greyscale. There are fiery reds and blindingly fluorescent yellows. The deepest of blues and the zingiest of lime greens.
But I digress.
Watching the last few years go by, I’ve made a few observations.
Blood doesn’t equate to loyalty. Religious piety does not guarantee ethical behaviour. Even the most respected mentor is a mere mortal, with their own insecurities and agendas.
Of course, it isn’t all bad.
While social media is often treated like a cesspool of vapidness, there are some gems to be had. There’s the wonderful Luisa who reminds me to squash the anti-aging mentality. Then there’s Tara (owner of Proud Poppy) and Kim who help me unprogram years of body image issues and remind me that I am worthy of colourful, fun outfits.
And outside the digital world, there are real life beacons of joy from unexpected places. Random acts of kindness from people or situations I least expected. Movies which surprise and delight. Flipped switches that make me feel that maybe I’m not the worst mum out there.
All these examples aside, the point I’m trying to make here is that we can’t rely on a static assumption. And indeed, with technology progressing at an astounding rate, perhaps the most important attribute to nurture nowadays is adaptability.
Of course, it’s easy to say that we should be flexible and keep an open mind. But the older we get, the more stuck in our ways we tend to be. Then ego also comes into play and tells us that we know better, who do those young upstarts think they are? Hmmph.
I’m not going to lie, it’s been a hard road. There has been heartache that still lurks deep within. My rusty old brain takes longer to process new data.
But today, on my birthday, my wish is that I won’t be deterred to keep riding the waves and melding myself to every swell. Because the exhiliration of discovery and the stretch of growth makes life so much richer.
And I hope that you have the privilege to experience it too.
xoxo Nadie