Remember in college when your friends would constantly want to go out and party? I was THAT girl who would have rather curled up on the couch with a movie and a giant sized candy bar. No lie.
I am what they would call “boring” or “goody-goody” or “rule follower“. Yep, that is me. I struggled in college trying to keep up with my FUN friends! I wanted so much to be “cool“, but the bottom line is…I was ready for bed by 10 pm.
I always joked with my friends and said, “I’m old!“. Haha!
Truth was, I was younger than most of them. The thought of married life was something that I couldn’t wait for. When you get married you are supposed to “settle down” and the idea of that made me giddy! I would no longer have to “keep up” with my college friends who wanted to drink every night. I would no longer have to yawn at the bar while my friends make fun of me for ordering a Shirley Temple. I would no longer have to “pretend” I was cool and hip. I could finally be ME. The boring-goody-goody-rule-follower that I was. In all it’s glory. Sitting on my couch eating my candy bar.
And you know what happened? I got older {and married} and I realized that it’s not about being a… 
Nope, it’s not about that at all.
It’s about using my time here on this earth to make a difference. That’s when my mindset changed. I used to look forward to my “older” years so I could be ok with being boring {isn’t everyone suppose to be “boring” when they are older?}.
But, NOW I look forward to getting older because I wonder what I can do to make a difference. To change things. To leave an impact. To me, getting older is not just about wrinkles and eye cream {although I will definitely be using the eye cream}. It’s more about the legacy that I am leaving behind. What can I do to help others? How can I impact people around me?
More recently I have had a passion for orphans. I remember hearing about other bloggers who have raised money to build kindergartens in Kenya or sponsored a water well in Africa. I remember thinking, “God, use me. Show me the way. Give me the ability to change things.”
I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me, because I know I haven’t seen even the smallest glimpse of my purpose here. There is so much more that He is using me for and I feel like the older I get, the more clear it becomes. Just another reason I am embracing the aging process with a smile! What about you?
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I struggle with this too! I don’t want to get so old that my quality of life decreases and makes it harder for me to have an impact. But then I see my 96 year old Energizer Bunny grandpa, still rockin’ this life, and I realize that I don’t need to be afraid!
Gina´s last [type] ..Headin’ downstairs
Haha! That is awesome that your grandpa has lived so long! At least you know that you will be rocking out till way in to your 90′s!
Definitely getting older. I think I am an old soul already but I see my mom taking care of my grandma and think that will be me one day. I don’t want her to age more than me aging!
I want to see my kids grow up and get married some day, getting old isn’t all bad
I look forward to retirement and traveling in my “old age”
I feel uneasy. However, I hope for the best and realize that I cannot sit around dwelling on growing old… although today is my birthday!
I feel very uneasy about getting older – just don’t know what to expect!
I feel a little uneasy.
Getting older has consistently been wonderful for me. I feel like with each year I settle more in to being me, not the me that anyone else perceives, but just authentically me and that’s exciting.
Amanda @RunToTheFinish´s last [type] ..Bloggers and Phones
The only reason I fear getting older is the worry about finances when I can’t work any longer. I haven’t worked at a job that had a good retirement plan and there’s never been enough extra to fund a good plan for myself.
I am not fearful but optimistic with good health a key.
I am guardedly optimistic and certainly not fearful.
i feel optimistic…I live between fear and hope
Thanks for a super giveaway!