Like Fine Wine

I just had a birthday. Like, yesterday. I won’t say how old I am, but let’s just say that I now have to check off a different age box on some demographic questionnaires.

I find it so interesting how your perspective on life and attitude about the things and people around you change as you get older. For many people (not all), the kinds of people you hang out with change, your ideas on life change, your self-image changes, and (like it or not) your body changes. No one is exempt from that last one. Age shows no discrimination or mercy.

And what’s more, the people around you change how they are with you. This can be good or bad. I don’t know if it’s a direct result of your own metamorphosis or something that just happens with time.

You know the whole “cougar” phenomenon? There’s a reason for that. Women who enter into that zone known generically as “middle age” are different than younger women. They’ve been through stuff, seen things, and dealt with many different people. By that stage in their lives, they have found themselves, discovered their strengths, and learned how to handle their weaknesses, or at least identified them.

There’s also the sexual aspects of a middle-aged women—her years of experience have presumably made her more comfortable and in-tune with her body and, therefore, a better sexual partner. Physically, women often “grow into their looks.” I have found that this has happened to me. I never got much attention when I was a teenager; then, as I traversed my 20s and 30s, I seemed to appeal to more and more people. Then I turned 40 and…well, I’m not quite sure what happened but I suddenly found myself receiving attention from both men and women. Lots of it on a regular basis. I spent so many years considering myself unattractive (thanks to my childhood bullies who called me fat and ugly) that when I did start receiving compliments as an adult, I simply didn’t believe them. I’m at a point now where I’m willing to accept the compliments, even if I don’t understand them. I guess like fine wine, I’ve improved. (I could also say like fine cheese, but considering its stinky nature, I’ll just stick with the wine metaphor.)

Of course, I’m speaking generally. There are some people who don’t change much (although, unless you live in a remote area with very little outside contact, I don’t see how this is possible). Sadly, there are also women who are broken down by life (men, too). I feel sorry for those people because we only get one life (unless you believe in reincarnation, but that’s a whole other bag of monkeys).

I’m only talking about this because birthdays make me think, and they bring to the fore of my mind issues that I’ve been grappling with. I like to think that I’m entering the better part of my life, even if my body disagrees. I hope that’s the case.