The Woman in the Mirror

When I look in the mirror these days I see someone I have not yet gotten to know very well.

During the past 8 years, the person who inhabits my body has finally grown up, shedding knee-jerk reactions for true critical thinking skills. There are many reasons that this process - learning to think - has taken so long, none worth going into here. Each of us grows up with a different set of challenges, even those who appear to lead a normal uneventful life, without dysfunctional parents or tragedy or loss or physical setback.

That's just life.

I think I like this new person I see. She certainly looks level-headed and if not quite serene, at least content.

I credit marriage to a good man for much of this growth. I suppose a better person could have done it on her own, but we are what we are, and even when we try to improve what we are, we still have limitations.

I have noticed recently that people are asking me for advice. I rather like that, and I enjoy talking to them and finding a way to help. I like the problem solving process a lot. I want to become a wise woman.

And if I am stiff and achy on a winter morning and if I occasionally want to tear off all my clothes because I am HOT, well that's OK.

There is much to appreciate about growing older and wiser.