A couple of weeks ago I celebrated my 48th birthday. This is a picture of some of my children, my grandson, and myself at one of our favorite Richmond locations, in the middle of a hike on my birthday.
The phrase I woke up with that morning, and that kept running through my mind that day was, "I'm forty-eight and feeling great." But what does that mean and how could I possibly have that outlook in November 2020, of all times? Every time that thought went through my mind, I thought of one more reason to agree with it. Here's what I came up with.
First, I am happy. Happy to be alive. Happy to be surrounded by most of my children and my grandson every day. Happy to married to my wonderful husband of almost 23 years. Happy to share my birthday with him. Yes, we have the same birthday and are exactly the same age. Happy to have a continued sense of peace and trust in the Lord.
Second, I feel healthy. A couple of months ago, I had an annual check up in which the results of some of the labs came back with concerning results. In order to stave off the need for daily medications, I committed to becoming more disciplined in my approach to diet and exercise. It's paying off. I feel and look healthier than I have for some time. I am actually looking forward to going back for the follow-up labs in January to see what impact has been made.
Third, I am pursuing adventure. Part of my exercise plan has been exploring the abundant nature trails in our area through hiking. It's been exciting to discover new trails and treasures in a city that I've lived in for over 16 years. I love sharing those adventures with my family members. I feel a sense of accomplishment in the little things like finding the right clothes for the cold weather so I can keep going through the winter, as well as the more significant things like finishing a trail that took us a couple of weeks to work through.
Fourth, I have new confidence. One of the things that has been changing over the past couple of years is how completely comfortable I feel in my own skin. Literally, my own skin. From my teen years through adulthood, my relationship with makeup has moved from exploratory, to naturally enhancing, to making an impression, to concealing flaws, and now mostly unnecessary. There was a time that I wouldn't dream of being photographed or seen in public without my "face" on. But now, I don't even wear a "face" anymore. It's mascara and little powder at the most, every now and then. And as you can see in the picture above, I'm no longer afraid of the camera without my "face". Nothing has changed about my skin, it still has flaws, a few dark spots, too much redness when I've been physically exerting myself, and as I'm aging, more wrinkles. What has changed is my ability to see myself the way the Lord, my family, and my friends do. To see the beauty that has grown in my heart and shines in my smile.
So, at 48, this is what it means for me to be feeling great and Living with Beloved Light!
