Half way through ..

There is this big dilemma in middle age - you either accept that you are done with your youth and peak productive years or you take this as an opportunity to reinvent yourself or should I say reveal your true self and take it as a second opportunity to live life on your terms.

You wake up to realize that it took much shorter period of time to reach this age - it came too soon and all of a sudden you are aware of every passing year. Time doesn't slow as you age, it rushes ... using gravity in all possible ways imaginable ... (just look at your skin )

You realize that you are half way through life - considering that you will live your life till 80s and will be living it healthy. You have experienced life  in ways only you can - and have experienced loss, love, heartbreaks, career slumps .. and potential risks. You know by now that life cannot be planned and charted out, you just make the best of the journey.

Healthy diets start to hold a different meaning - cholesterol is real, hypertension is real and when your doctor says that you have to have annual checkups after 40s - you know that youth is smiling and waving you goodbye. Mid-life crisis looms - you want to hang in with the enchanting fragrances of youth , you want to hold on to the illusion of being immortal and when  it dawns on you that the time is ticking - that before you know you would be gone, the urgency to fulfill all the desires takes prominence.

Yet this is a phase that is so unique - you learn to love yourself more, and believe me everything looks perfect with imperfect eyes - natures way of softening the blow when you look in the mirror.You realize that life is still beautiful and all the small stuff that you spent your youth worrying about doesn't really matter. You have gained enough experience in life to know that this too shall pass.

You also find that it is very liberating to know that there are no set rules - they were all set by someone else for their convenience.Learning to speak and write without worrying about repercussions comes easy and the list of to dos become prioritized. Messy houses, peoples approval  start to matter less  and the realization that life is meant to be enjoyed through your own unique eyes. Guilt gets reserved for only serious matters.

By the mid -forties , you learn to love and live with your idiosyncrasies, and appreciate the people who love you in spite of all the  flaws. Time becomes precious and the urgency to do what you love and be with your loved ones takes precedent.

You no longer hesitate to show your true crazy self  and are well-versed in filtering the disapproved looks. Life does get better - time more valuable and the people you love more precious .