Thirty-eight arrived quietly today, wrapped in a blanket with a box of tissues and a head cold. After spent days nursing everyone else through their own sniffles, it was only a matter of time before my own immune system surrendered. Spending your birthday resting while your family keeps the household running is a gentle reminder of the grace in slowing down, even when it isn't exactly how you pictured blowing out the candles.
Lying here resting, I’ve had plenty of time to reflect on where I am on this timeline. It’s hard to wrap my mind around being closer to forty than thirty. Mentally, I still feel not a day over fourteen. My imagination is just as lively, curious, and full of wonder as it ever was. For a long time, I caught myself thinking that meant I needed to finally "grow up" and that being an adult meant putting away childlike joy, locking up creative whimsy, and trading playfulness for serious practicality.
But as I look ahead at this new chapter, I’m choosing a different perspective. Holding onto your inner spark isn't immaturity; it’s a gift. God didn't design us to become dull or rigid as the years pass. Faith teaches us that fresh starts don't require us to reinvent ourselves or surrender the things that make our hearts sing; they simply ask us to trust the season we are in and step forward with open hands and full trust.
So for chapter thirty-eight, and in every step leading up to forty, I am giving myself permission to dismantle the "too old" myth. I want to reclaim the things I’ve set aside simply because I assumed adults were supposed to move past them. I want more bold creativity, more unapologetic playfulness, and more room for the things that bring genuine delight, without needing a practical or productive justification for any of it. Aging doesn't mean shrinking our boundaries; it means having the confidence to live fully and colorfully right where we are.
As I rest up and prepare to step into this new year, I want to ask: what is something you’ve set aside or hesitated to try because you felt you were "too old" for it? Maybe it’s time we both put those unwritten rules away and give ourselves permission to play again.
Thank you for being here for another Blogust, Reader! I've enjoyed coming up with daily posts for you all month long. As I transition back to work you may hear a little less from me over he next few weeks, but don't fret! Blogtober is fast approaching and will be here before we know it! Happy end-of-Blogust, Reader! I hope your September starts off full of magic and whimsy!
