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Aging Gracefully: Still Learning, Still Becoming


 

On October 16th, I celebrated a new year around the sun and I woke up that day feeling grateful, happy, excited about the season I'm in and ready for new blessings for my new year. As I continue to evolve and become the woman God has created me to be, I am grateful of all the lessons I continue to learn and the wisdom (so far) I've collected.

As I look back over the last 44 years, one thing I know for sure....When I was younger, I thought I knew everything and knew absolutely nothing. Now, I know more than I think I do because of what I've learned from the things I didn't know when I was younger (read that until you get it). Here are some of the things I've learned thus far and am still learning more about each day:


1. Change is constant and inevitable.

2. Take your health seriously when you are young and stay on top of it as you grow older.

3. 30 is young. 50 is also young.

4. Being surrounded by people who love and treat you well should be a non-negotiable in your life. What should also be non-negotiable - truly and genuinely learning to love yourself and treating yourself well. 

5. The way you treat and talk about yourself (internally and externally) is important and critical to your physical and mental well-being. Be positive in both no matter your circumstances.

6. You don't have to disparage yourself or criticize yourself in front of other people to be relatable or to make them feel comfortable. Their insecurities are not for you to manage. 

7. Just as surely as you can be in the valley, you can go to the mountain top. And just as surely as you can be on the mountain top, you can end up in the valley. Things can change for you quickly at any moment.

8. Other people's opinions don't matter. Even when someone tries to explain to you why they (opinions) should or shouldn't matter, those opinions still don't matter!

9. In order to find or accept love you have to be open to and appreciative of the love that's already around you. How can you ever recognize and appreciate love later if you don't learn to recognize and appreciate it now?

10. Clear is kind. Be as clear and honest as possible when communicating with other people.

11. You may fail at something, you may regress in some areas occasionally, you will forget, you will mess up, and you will not always feel or be your best. But each moment, hour, day, week, year etc you can start over or choose a better path. For as long as you live, never underestimate the power of the next minute, hour, year or your 'tomorrow'.


I hope each birthday we remember how important and valuable we are to this world and keep close all the lessons we've learned and wisdom we've collected. 

Here's to our best life year yet *cheers*!


XO - Carmen C.


Note: This blog post has been updated as of October 21, 2025.


Pop Off Happy Birthday GIF by The Roku Channel

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