19 Signs You’re Getting Older and You Just Don’t Care

Do you ever stare at yourself in the mirror and think, “How did I get so old? I mean I feel 27!” Me too. I used to feel young, and carefree despite the wear and tear on my body, but things changed this summer. We were in a hotel room in Arizona and there was a band playing down below by the pool loud for the holiday weekend. My husband was all into it, loving the impromptu concert, but I couldn’t take it. 

“Why are you so grouchy? It’s nice to have a little fun!”, he asked. 

“But I’m old and I don’t want to have fun. I want to sleep OK?”, I yelled back. I mean it was 10:00 pm, don’t these people have kids? (And understand the time change?!)

And that was the moment I knew I was getting older and just didn’t care anymore. Once I hit 40 I knew things would be a bit different, but in the past couple of years, things have changed. And for the better in my opinion. 

Gone are the days of me caring what anyone else thinks, and gone are the days of size four jeans. And you know what, I embrace it. I am happy to be on a path of self-acceptance and self-love and don’t want to fight against mother nature anymore. (Except for brown spots, those are going bye-bye soon.)

So on this my 42nd birthday, I decided to pen 19 Signs You’re Getting Older and You Just Don’t Care. Because life’s too short to sweat those premature signs of aging. And 19 is my favorite number because I was born on 9/19…duh.

19 Signs You’re Getting Older and Just Don’t Care

1. You don’t pull out the gray hairs anymore. Mostly because you can’t see them, but who has the time?
2. And speaking of eyesight, you squint when you’re reading or driving. Seriously, by my 41st birthday, I couldn’t read street signs anymore and needed driving glasses. (Thankfully no reading glasses, yet!)
3. You don’t cry when you have to buy the next size up pants. That belly fat is new and nearly impossible to disintegrate, but buying new pants is waaaaay easier than Sweatin’ to the Oldies.
4. Coffee and green juice are your BFF’s.  So is whitening toothpaste.
5. You don’t cry when you receive anti-aging cream for your birthday. (Thanks, mom!)
6. You can’t wait for a big night out on the town. Dinner reservations at 5:30, sweet! And bedtime is 9:30pm, 10:00 tops. I mean we have kids, and school, and responsibilities, and did I mention how tired we are?
7. Lastest trends? #OOTD? What are those? The clothes you pick are comfortable, soft, flowy, and make you feel good. 
8. Oh, and you buy your clothes where you buy your food, thanks, Target and Costco for the awesome options! You also finally put back on your bikini because f**k it. 
9. Your kids think the music you loved as a teen is quote, “TERRIBLE”.  Then you turn it up louder and sing it at the top of your lungs.
10. You wake up multiple times a night. Rather than fretting, 5:00 am is the perfect time to start your day. (Thanks, hot flashes!)
11. You pee every time you cough. Or laugh. Or jump on a trampoline. 
12. You still like Mapquest and aren’t afraid to print out a map instead of using your phone.
13. Your favorite things to watch on TV are the news, the Weather Channel, or anything on the Hallmark Channel. (Especially the Christmas movies.)
14. The only thing you like about Snapchat is the fun filters. Because seriously, who gets Snapchat? 
15. You stop wearing makeup all the time IRL and online. You also don’t care about the perfect selfie anymore because perfect doesn’t exist. (We are all perfectly imperfect so let’s stop pretending.)
    

    You can buy these new t-shirts here in white lettering and here in gray lettering! They come in youth and adult sizes. I even made one with a flower for me!  #sorrynotsorry #askforwhatyouwant

16. You aren’t afraid to ask for what you want. (See t-shirts above – super cute right? You can buy one for you and all your friends!)
17. You realize a beautiful sunset and a nice glass of wine are better than any night club. Plus they don’t open until after you go to bed anyways so….
18. Instead of judging young women, you want to help empower them. You finally realize that competition is for the weak.
19. You finally understand the value of gratitude, and instead of seeking what you want in life, you allow it to come to you.

Yes, sometimes I freak out about the fact that my life may be half over, but mostly I’m OK with where I am. Sure I’ve gained weight, and still don’t feel that well with my ongoing health issues, but it could be so much worse. What’s happening is quite simple, I’m getting older and I seriously don’t care anymore. I may be 42 on the outside, but I’m a solid 33 on the inside.

Bring it 42! Just leave the hurricanes behind, please.

Did you like this post? Then please join me on Facebook! Also, check out my ode to 40 in Age is More Than Just a Number.

Or why birthdays are such big deal to me in – Why Her Birthday is My Special Day Too.