Why Getting Older is Awesome!!
[cc_blockquote_right]This post title initially read ‘Why Getting Older Doesn’t Totally Suck,’ but I figured, why not step up the optimisim, huh?[/cc_blockquote_right]
My brother, sister and I have birthdays within 14 days of each other. It used to be so exciting for us! Now, not so much. My brother is thrilled about being one year away from 30. I’m super excited about losing my health insurance. And my sister is too young to complain, lol.
Yes, I know, 26 is by no means “old.” But some days I feel much older than that number.
So, the best way for me to organize this post was to pick the typical “negative” things about getting older and spin them into something at least kinda-positive. Of course, these are all just my own experiences and thoughts! So here we go!
Wrinkles. They stink. I don’t know when these things popped up, but I’m not a fan.
- Positive: Well, most of my acne is (finally) gone! Trying to cover up acne in the morning was a pain in the butt. It always took so long to try to make a breakout less visible… and it never worked. My skin is also less oily so my makeup doesn’t slide off. Since there’s no makeup that will conceal my wrinkles, I don’t worry about it! My morning makeup takes about 3 minutes. And I’m not ashamed to consider a little botox in the future.
My metabolism slowed way down. Not sure when exactly this happened. The first time I noticed was two Novembers ago. I was on a 1.5 month long rotation and managed to put on 10 lbs while still working out every day. Clothes were more than a little snug.
- Positive: I’m making healthy lifestyle changes now. I joined weight watchers last year and have maintained my ideal weight easily. I think the $20 per month is well worth it and would recommend it to anyone. Also, I’m finding different workouts I enjoy. Crossfit is great for a quick tone-up, but I can’t do it long term because its too hard on my joints. I switch off running, biking, elliptical training and high-intensity cardio & weights. I love doing at least a little yoga every day to loosen up, too.
I have significantly less free time than in the past (and will have significantly less for the next 3 years of 60-80 hour work weeks + 2 weeks vacation!).
- Positive: I will learn to prioritize and make sacrifices. Not something that I want to do, but a skill that will continue to be very important. I’ve found that the best way for me to fight off feeling depressed or sorry for myself it to prioritize workouts and sleep (>7 hours).
It seems that new technology is coming out so fast… I can’t keep up! Seriously, I’m lucky that I can understand what’s going on with my blog stuff. Facts: I’ve never owned a tv and don’t know how to work them past the basics. I only own an iPad because I won it, and I only use it for reading and web browsing. My computer is a 4+ year old Lenovo and I’ve never done any maintenance. I have an iPhone and the only app I consistently use is the weather one.
- Positive: Pshhh, who cares? How much technology junk does one really need? And if I do buy something and don’t know how to work it, I’m quite an amazing Google-er.
I’m poor. The poorest I’ve ever been. And my upcoming job won’t pay enough to even budget in the interest from my loans.
- Positive: Sounds crazy, but I think its good to understand what its like to make life work on minimal funds. I try to earn any money I can (because we can’t have “real” jobs while in medical school). I’m still selling tons of trinkets from my grandparents house (and my clothes and such), doing little jobs here and there, and using affiliate links on my blog. It’ll be amazing when I eventually have a decent paying job.
I’m not very good at using social media. I loathe Facebook. I despise Twitter. There’s probably something “new and exciting” popping up right now that I’ll hate, too.
- Positive: I only use these things for my blog and typically only make posts/ tweets that I think would be useful to someone. It almost seems like we’re becoming too dependent on social media, and not enjoying real life. Not going to stress over this, we can’t do everything.
I go to bed at 9. There were times during school that I would consistently go to bed at 7. A “late night” for me is dinner and a 9:00 movie. On weekends I can only sleep in til 6am. Super cool.
- Positive: I see sunrises! I get first pick on J. Crew pop-backs. Morning coffee is delicious. Tea is pretty yummy, too. Chai? Yes please. Who cares if I go to bed while its still light out? Having a night life is overrated.
I love this post! No matter getting old if you’re making accomplishments along the way! I’m months from losing health insurance too, bums me out. As for sleep, I’m constantly trying to get to bed by 10pm and fail, hard on me when I’m out the door around 5am, but one of these days I will get a snapshot of the skyline at sunrise!
Ugh, being out the door at 5 is rough! Losing health insurance is one of the crappiest things. Bummed that my moms insurance changed, I was supposed to be covered til I graduated. Oh well.
That is strange. I always thought that if you were still enrolled as a student, you should be able to hold onto your health insurance for that calendar year. But what the heck do I know? Diddly squat. Now, on the bright side, at least this is happening at a time when you are young and healthy and not in dire need of health insurance, right? =D
Also, I forgot to mention that I’m with you on technology. I have an iPhone 5 now, because I gave in to peer pressure & phone envy. Plus, a nice discount on my monthly plan was encouraging. Before that I had a “free” re-furbed phone & no data plan. (It was really about $40, because I had to pay tax on the original value of it.) If I could make that crappy phone last me 2 years, then proportionately speaking, I should be able to use my current phone for 10 years! Let’s try shall we? I don’t see any need to upgrade a phone just because your contract is up if it’s not damaged or anything.
As for social media, I find it kind of irritating and it’s too often used as a weapon, delivering low blows via instant info-sharing. Irritating, because I hate when I’m telling a story and someone is checking their FB feed. =[ (lol I’ll take some cheese with my whine.)
On the other hand, social media has provided me with unlimited entertainment when I’m waiting in line to pick up food, or waiting for public transportation, just moments in life when I need to busy myself with mindless chatter.
(Sorry for the long comment.)
I didn’t have insurance while I was at school..so when I got into a car accident I actually mumbled to the ambulance to take me to Cook County the “free” Chicago hospital…I went to free clinics for years…They were in pretty shady areas but you have to do what you have to do! 🙂
I’ll be 33 this year, and 26 seems young to me! 🙂 And when you’re 33, you’ll think 26 is so young, too. With that in mind, enjoy yourself at each moment you are at because your future self will be envying you no matter what. Make sure you enjoy being all of 26 and beyond so your future self will truly have something worthwhile to be envious about and not regretting that your 26-year-old self was too busy worrying about getting old. It’s too bad our culture fears getting older that 26-year-olds think they are old. I know some brilliant 70-year-olds who tell me their hearts are still 18, and they are some of the best people I know (and a lot more interesting than actual 18-year-olds!). 🙂
Thanks for commenting! I don’t think getting older is bad! I actually love where I’m at in life. There are always things that stink about getting older, tho. It’s unavoidable!
Love this post. You are so accomplished for your age, congrats! I can relate to bummber #5. At your exact age, I had a 4 year old, was newly divorced AND made a whopping $7.50 per hour to cover all of my financial responsibilities. But you know what, you get thru it. You will get thru it and prosper, many blessings to you in the process. Ugh, don’t even get me started on bummer #2…
Hahaha! I totally feel old when it comes to technology…I don’t even have an iphone! Well I remember feeling old at 24..then at 26…and now at 28….but then I realize that you are only as old as you feel…so if you don’t feel old..then you are not. p.s. I am totally saving $$$ for botox already!