Keep blooming!

My cousin has a beautiful tattoo. It says, “Keep blooming,” in our grandmother’s incomparable script. She’s younger than I am, but I know she’d agree it’s a message for every age. I turn 59 later this year and next month, I get to celebrate 35 years of marriage with my sweetheart. In addition to those milestones, the past 12 months held a lot of significance for our family. Our oldest daughter and son-in-law got married, and our youngest daughter graduated from college. In recent months, I got to use my nonprofit know-how for an expanding mission, and soon, I start a new chapter teaching art to little children (I am SO excited!). Many people my age are retired or heading that way, and that’s great; I’m just not ready to set my professional aspirations down. This past year has shown me that. I’m thankful for a season of convergence: a time when personal, professional, and family milestones unfold together, each one with its own joy, challenge, and significance. While my adult children’s trajectories are far more exciting than my own, I still feel the universe nudging me forward. I’m learning a lot, not least of which is how to stop judging myself regarding my age. I’m not ready to slow down! This moment of life for so many women in their fifties is full, but it’s also sacred because we know ourselves better. I’ve spent much of my life reacting and responding to events and opportunities, and as a “willow” person, I do that with ease, but I’ve (finally) entered a time I get to choose with grace, navigate with my wishes at the helm, and honor and celebrate my progress as well as the progress of others. As Pablo Picasso said, “We don’t grow older. We grow riper.” I agree. And I’d add, for women out there of ALL ages, keep blooming!