Are you young or old?
Does age even matter?
In our polarized society, many things appear to be binary.
In the mathematics and computing world, binary means 0 or 1.
But life is so much more nuanced than that.
We don’t need to mourn the loss of our younger self.
Our bodies do not necessarily age like fine wine…
But acknowledging the aging process is not “giving up.”
In the flower world, we often take pictures of a bud or an early blossom.
They are beautiful.
In a vase of cut flowers, we toss them when they wilt.
They are old and shriveled.
We are not flowers!
We can choose to embrace the wisdom of aging…
💜 With age often comes clarity.
💜 Prioritizing self-care becomes easier.
💜 Placing value on what really matters rises to the top.
💜 Taking setbacks in stride seems second nature.
💜 Navigating obstacles can be done without fear.
For women, postmenopause is a time to connect with newfound wisdom, embrace changing bodies, and cultivate new experiences.
Aging allows us an opportunity to become creative, nurture compassion, reinforce kindness, and tap into inner strength.
I cherish each new year and every new decade, especially as I start a new one this year.
Cheers to aging with gusto!
: : :
Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD is an internal medicine physician who provides telemedicine medical consultation and advocacy for patients in WA state, and professional career pivot navigation support for physicians in the US. Find her at myMDadvocate.
Her book, The Menopause Menu, is an all-in-one giftbook, medical guide and recipe book for navigating menopause.