Feeling Wiser Not Older

What a difference a year makes

Nicole Lee
Middle-Pause

--

Woman holding balloons and staring at the ocean
Photo by Jessica Christian on Unsplash

Just as the dust starts to settle from the holidays and life returns to normal, my birthday comes barreling into view.

I stopped being a fan of birthdays once I turned 30. Age might be just a number, but I dreaded it every time mine increased. It’s not that I was upset about getting older per se; it was more about my perceived lack of accomplishments. I never felt I was where I was “supposed” to be in life.

Thirty soon rolled into 40. Before I knew what was happening, 40 rolled into 50.

My big 50th birthday blowout trip was postponed while I recovered from the last vestiges of Christmas COVID.

My 51st birthday was ecstatically happy. I had a new job with more money and less stress and had reunited with my on-again/off-again love. Believing I was on the road to my happily ever after, it felt like a new beginning.

A year later, I don’t even recognize that woman.

51 was the year I found myself bored with a job that didn’t challenge me.

51 was the year I took off my rose-colored glasses and finally saw my relationship as the trauma bond it was and not the love story I wanted it to be.

--

--

Nicole Lee
Middle-Pause

Closet writer choosing gratitude in the every day crazy of life.