AND THEN IT'S WINTER

There is a version of this making the rounds on Facebook, and so I thought I would add my own voice to the story. I hope you enjoy.

You know, time has a funny way of sneaking up on us. One day you’re young, freshly married, launching into life with all the energy of a hummingbird on espresso, and the next, you're wondering when your knees started making sound effects every time you stood up.

Honestly, it feels like just yesterday I was mapping out dreams and planning adventures. And yet, somehow, here I am, standing in the middle of winter. Not the snowball-and-hot-cocoa kind, but the season of life kind. I have to ask, how did we get here so fast?

I used to look at "older people" and think, "Wow, that's light years away from me." Turns out, those light years flew by like a shopping cart on a hill. Now my friends are retired, greying with dignity (and maybe a few complaints), and we’ve all slowed down just enough to notice. We’ve become the people we used to joke about, minus the sensible shoes. Oka,  we might have the shoes.

These days, getting through a shower feels like checking something off a bucket list. And naps? They’re no longer a luxury. They’re a necessity. Voluntary or not, we will nap. Sometimes mid-sentence.

And yes, this season comes with its aches, stiffness, and a touch of “Where are my glasses?” but it also brings perspective. While there are things I wish I’d done, and a few I wish I hadn’t (ask me about disco dancing sometime), I’m still grateful for the ride.

If you're not in your “winter” yet, don’t wait. Seriously. Use the fancy dishes. Book the trip. Call the friend. Wear the glittery socks. Life is shorter than we think, and no one ever said, “I wish I had watched more TV commercials.”

So, say what needs to be said. Hug the people who matter. Laugh, especially at yourself. And scatter kindness like confetti. That’s the stuff that sticks around long after we’re gone.

Because life is a gift. How you live it? That’s your gift to everyone else.

LIVE IT WELL. ENJOY TODAY. DO SOMETHING RIDICULOUSLY FUN.
BE KIND. STAY CURIOUS. LAUGH A LOT.

And remember:

“It’s health that is real wealth, not gold or silver or how many devices you can’t figure out how to charge.”

And just for fun, here are a few life truths you might relate to:

• Today is the oldest you’ve ever been, and the youngest you’ll ever be again. So, make it count!
• Your kids are turning into you. Don’t panic, they’ll be fine. Probably.
• Going out is great. Coming home is even better.
• You forget names,  but chances are, they’ve forgotten yours too!
• You sleep best in your chair with the TV blaring. It’s not napping, it’s “pre-sleep.”
• What used to be freckles are now, let’s just call them “experience dots.”
• You have clothes in three sizes, none of which fit, but you keep them just in case.
• And why is everything sleeveless now?!

But here’s the best part:
Old is good.
Old songs. Old movies. And above all, old friends.

So, here’s to us, still here, still laughing, and still wonderfully, perfectly ourselves.

Stay well, my old friend.
Pass this along to another old friend and give them a reason to smile today.

Because in the end:

“It’s not what you gather,

 it’s what you scatter

that tells the story of your life.”