The Little Things
By Jason Marshall
My eyes aren’t quite what they used to be.
With another birthday on the horizon, they now see life differently.
Some people view aging as a curse.
I don’t see it that way.
Yes, there’s the aching back. Throbbing joints. The unexplainable urge to wear black knee-high socks and Crocs. The wisdom to resist that urge.
That is the trade-off for having a cake full of candles.
As a kid, birthdays were all about presents. Only later in life do you realize the birthday is the actual present.
No. Growing older isn’t a curse. It too is a gift. One that not everyone has the chance to unwrap.
Each day on this earth brings opportunity.
A chance to create more memories. For you. And those in your inner circle.
It gives you more time to love those in your life who love you. You also have more chances to tell them how you feel. And while you’re at it, you can’t forget to love yourself.
At one point in life, I wanted more than anything to be older. Every time someone asked my age, I told them the number and added “and a half” to prove I wasn’t a little kid. Every birthday was a time to celebrate milestones. Driver’s licence. Voting. Legally having a drink in a bar.
The milestones keep coming. First grey whisker. Hearing the songs you rocked to in high school on the local oldies station. Finding the lone dark whisker in your grey beard.
You can’t stop time, so don’t fight it. Embrace it.
Flip the narrative and utilize your life experience.
You’re old enough to sift through the noise and tune in to what’s truly worth listening to.
You’ve learned to listen more. And speak when something is worth saying.
Each year helps you understand that feelings of anger, guilt and jealousy aren’t worth the emotional toll.
So carefully choose who warrants your time and energy. Even family shouldn’t get a free pass.
Look at it like this: Each day gives you the opportunity for do-overs to right the wrongs worth righting.
The wisdom of age allows you to find beauty in a world rife with chaos. That is a truly amazing revelation when it happens.
Each trip around the sun should help you realize a need to cherish time because it’s your most precious resource.
Now is the perfect time to play the lead role in your story and ensure your character is authentic and genuine. Your story should never be a work of fiction.
It’s enlightening when you hit the age where you clearly see that actions say more than words ever could.
I’ve realized that tomorrow is inevitable and yesterday isn’t coming back.
I never wish away a day but try to live each to its fullest. Regret will poison your soul and imprison your spirit.
Life teaches. Yet we don’t listen to—or appreciate—the lessons at the time. We need the life experiences of youth to allow us to experience life to its fullest when we’re older.
This is why I’m embracing the idea of wanting to grow old instead of fearing it.
To quote a cherished friend of mine, the late Leo Lavoie, “Don’t worry about growing old; some people don’t get the chance.”
Leo tagged each of his newspaper columns with that line, and I read it hundreds of times but only now does it truly resonate.
I’ve accepted that age shouldn’t be marked in years, because it’s all about the space between your ears.
So, when I wipe away the steam on the bathroom mirror after a shower and see the crow’s feet that have somehow appeared, I don’t worry. I simply smile, and the face looking back at me shows off laugh lines from a life being well-lived. Not a wrinkle in sight.
Sure, the glow of candles from my birthday cake can be seen from the International Space Station, but so can several other natural wonders that are proudly withstanding the test of time.
The gift of another birthday gives all of us a chance to appreciate and focus on the little things. They too are a gift. One that makes all the difference.
Jason Marshall has been a writer and journalist for more than 35 years, and is an on-air host and general manager at Valley Heritage Radio just outside of Renfrew, Ontario. And he’s truly a big kid at heart. You can email him anytime at jason@valleyheritageradio.ca
