Almost 60!

This year, I turned 59 and Mt turned 58.

We each have our own perspective on aging and how we feel about it, but one thing we both agree on: getting older is a privilege.

When I was younger, I never feared aging. In fact, I was the opposite. I used to watch my mom and her friends, how they dressed, how they laughed, how they unapologetically smoked their cigarettes and shared their stories, and to me, it all felt magical. There was something glamorous about their confidence and freedom.

Even as I got older, I felt the same. In fact, I used to lie about my age, saying I was older, because I thought I’d be taken more seriously. I couldn’t wait to grow into myself.

I also knew how fragile life could be. That not everyone gets the chance to grow older. I learned that the hard way when I lost my brother David to AIDS at just 21. He never got to follow his heart, live out his dreams, or discover what his life might have become. That loss changed me. It made me realize that aging, wrinkles, wisdom, all of it, is a gift not everyone receives.

Yes, age is a number, but it’s also a mirror. It reflects our stories, our growth, our grief, our joy. It holds all the moments that shaped us: the heartbreaks, the resilience, the lessons, and the becoming.

The world often tells us that our best days are behind us, but I don’t believe that. Not for a second. I want to embrace aging, not fear it. I don’t believe the best of my life is in the past. I still want to dream. I want to try new things, create new memories, and stay open to the beauty this life continues to offer.

As Mt and I embark on this next chapter, through our podcast, our journal, and now this blog, we’re bringing with us our love for life, our lived experiences, and the wisdom we’ve gathered along the way. And we’re equally excited about what’s still to come. The unfolding. The expansion. The dreams we haven’t dreamed yet.

We’re not done. We’re just getting started.

Love,

Helen