As I stood in front of the mirror applying my makeup, I couldn’t help but notice the deeper lines around my mouth, the gentle wrinkling of my neck and hands, and the gray hairs glistening beneath layers of hair dye. I was getting ready for my birthday dinner. I had turned 48 that day, and with it came an awareness of just how much time had passed.
When I woke that morning, the familiar weight of another birthday lingered heavily on me. Memories from childhood surfaced, drawing a bittersweet smile to my face. I remembered roaming freely through the forests of Puerto Rico, warm ocean water soothing my feet, and cool breezes brushing my cheeks as I gazed at the stars from beneath a dim porch light. Some memories remain tender and cherished; others are not as easily held.
I’ve lived through so much over the years, at times it feels as though I’ve lived more than one life, perhaps even the same life twice. I often wonder how many people feel this way as the years add up. I’ve heard countless times that age is “just a number,” but I don’t entirely agree. Aging brings undeniable changes to our bodies and moods, and learning to accept them can be challenging. Still, there is no stopping time, only learning how to move with it.
What I’ve come to understand is that age is less about numbers and more about attitude, our attitude toward ourselves, toward life, and toward our relationships. A positive outlook tends to return positive experiences, just as a negative one often invites the opposite. The energy we carry shows up in our faces and in the way others perceive us. True happiness radiates far more brightly than fine lines or wrinkles ever could. People are drawn not to perfection, but to presence and joy.
Happiness, I’ve learned, is a choice, not a right, and certainly not something we acquire from others. It isn’t found in external validation or material pursuits. It already lives within us. When we practice gratitude and cultivate happy thoughts, regardless of circumstance, we begin to feel an internal shift. Over time, that inner change reshapes how we experience the world around us. When your inner life is aligned, the outer details matter far less.
A week before my birthday, I met a dear friend for happy hour. She’s in her mid-fifties, and her glow was unmistakable. I asked if she’d changed her hair, her makeup, or had “something” done. She smiled and said, “I’m just happy.” That answer stayed with me. Imagine if more of us reached that level of self-awareness and contentment, the beauty industry might just find itself in trouble.
So here’s my takeaway at 48: practice love, happiness, gratitude, forgiveness, and joy. Commit to them daily. In a few months, you might even consider canceling that three-month Botox appointment, and instead, treat yourself to a new pair of shoes.
