I am turning 45 years old today.

And I am so cool. Ha, ha.

I am so much cooler than I was when I was 40 or 35 or 30. You get the idea.

Oh, my goodness how come nobody told me that you get better with age.

Why is it that everyone hides their age the older they get? We have it all so wrong.

Years ago when my hubby was still alive but very sick we went to a 40th birthday party.

And as we sat at the dinner table with all the others, the conversation moved to how they could not believe how most of them were turning 40.

And how it wasn’t so great.

My husband leaned over and said to me,

“I wish I had that problem, there is a 99% chance I won’t make it to 40.”

He died at age 35.

And since that day I tell everyone how old I am.

Even when they don’t ask.

I tell them anyway.

I am 45 years old. And so proud of it.

We live in a world that teaches us to hide our age.

And it also teaches us that getting older is not as good as being young.

Are you kidding me?

The wisdom of an 80-year-old woman or man who has loved and lost.

Who has suffered and rejoiced.

Who has traveled and seen many souls is the best thing on this planet.

I would listen to everything they would tell me.

And I would remind myself that they have seen so much more than I have.

And their hearts have been broken more than mine.

My grandmother lost her husband in her 50s and she wore black for years.

I remember going to her house to visit and she was always sad.

She didn’t know how to live without him.

I wish I could go back in time and talk to her.

Find out about her sadness more.

Find out what kept her so strong.

She became so independent in the end that she would not even live with us.

She wanted to live at her house on her own.

She died there.

And I think she wanted it this way.

Over the years and in my hard times she would visit me in my dreams.

And tell me she loved me.

Growing older is a privilege not everyone gets to have. We are so lucky to be alive. (Click to Tweet!)

And just to finish this birthday blog I need to tell you that I am writing to you from one of Sedona’s vortexes.

I wanted to be here today.

I wanted to reflect.

To get to know my 45-year-old self.

And maybe even hear my grandmother’s voice.

Maybe she will come back and visit me in my dreams.

As for you, I want a very selfish birthday gift.

I want you to find someone and tell them your age today.

Or scream it from the rooftops.

Age is our most valuable asset. Don’t you hide it.

With age and a lot of reflection,

Christina

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Christina

Christina

Christina Rasmussen is an author, speaker and social entrepreneur who believes that grief is an evolutionary experience required for launching a life of adventure and creative accomplishment.

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One Comment

  • Edmond says:

    Happy birthday Christina! Just writing to let you know that your weekly blogs have helped me. It’s one of the things I am looking forward to every week.

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