At 69, I’ve discovered that aging with gratitude isn’t about ignoring the aches and the gray hairs. It’s about being thankful I’m still here to notice them.
I love June. June is summertime. June is picnic season. June is my birthday month. And today, June 24th, is the day itself. So happy birthday to me. I’m 69, and I’m feeling fine—most of the time.
Sixty-nine. Honestly, that number still catches me off guard. I don’t know exactly what age I pictured for myself, but it certainly wasn’t this one. In my mind, I’m still somewhere between 35 and 45, right up until I walk past a mirror, get up off the floor, or make a strange noise standing up from a chair. Then reality taps me on the shoulder and says, “Oh, sweetheart. You’re definitely 69.”
But here’s the thing. Aging is fascinating.
Mentally, I Feel Stronger Than Ever
Mentally, I feel stronger than I’ve ever been. I worry less about what people think. I say what I mean. I have boundaries. I no longer feel the need to audition for acceptance. That’s one of the greatest gifts of getting older: you stop spending your precious energy trying to be everyone’s cup of tea. If someone doesn’t like me, that’s okay. As a friend of mine likes to say, not everyone is your flavor. And that’s okay too. At 69, I’ve learned that peace is more valuable than approval.
The Emotional Mixed Bag Of Getting Older
Emotionally, aging has been a mixed bag. I’ve known incredible joy, deep love, painful losses, disappointments, victories, and heartbreaks. Moments that changed me forever. I’ve learned that life isn’t about avoiding pain. It’s about learning to carry it without letting it define you. And the older I get, the more emotional I become about the simple things. Sunrises. Phone calls from friends. Unexpected laughter. A hug that lasts longer than usual. Birthdays, especially. Because every birthday now feels less like a celebration of age and more like a celebration of opportunity. Another year. Another chance. Another chapter.
Getting Older Physically Is Where Things Get Spicy
And let’s be honest, getting older physically is where things get, how do I put it, spicy.
No one prepared me for the fact that one day I’d injure myself while sleeping. Or that I could walk into a room with complete confidence and have absolutely no clue why I went in there. Or that reading a menu in a dimly lit restaurant would require the brightness of a small solar flare. Some mornings my body sounds like a bowl of Rice Krispies. Snap, crackle, pop.
Aging With Gratitude, One Birthday Candle At A Time
But despite all of it, I have enormous gratitude. Because not everyone gets the privilege of aging. Not everyone gets to see 69. Not everyone gets another birthday candle to blow out. Every wrinkle I have tells a story. Every gray hair is evidence that I showed up for life. Every ache reminds me that I’ve lived. I’ve moved, I’ve worked, I’ve loved, I’ve served, and I’ve survived. And for that, I’m deeply grateful.
Real Wealth Isn’t Measured In Money
At this stage of life, I don’t measure wealth by money. Although, I’ll be honest, money is nice. I measure it by experiences. By friendships. By memories and lessons learned and laughter shared. By the people who still answer my phone calls. That’s real wealth.
What I’d Tell My Younger Self
If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be this: stop worrying so much. Life is going to happen whether you’re ready or not. So take the trip. Wear the outfit. Start the business. Tell people you love them. Take the picture. Dance, even when you think you look ridiculous. Especially when you think you look ridiculous. Because one day you’ll wake up and be 69 years old, wondering how all those years flew by so quickly.
Here’s To 69
So today, as I celebrate this birthday, I don’t feel old. I feel experienced. I feel seasoned. I feel wiser. A little creakier, perhaps. (A little cracked up, too, if I’m honest.) But wiser. And most importantly, I feel incredibly fortunate to still be here. I’m still learning. I’m still laughing. I’m still growing. I’m still finding my voice, and I’m still finding new adventures. And I still believe that some of the best moments of my life haven’t even happened yet.
So here’s to 69. Here’s to gratitude. Here’s to resilience. Here’s to every scar, every laugh line, every lesson, every victory, and every challenge that brought me to this moment. And here’s to all of us who are lucky enough to keep adding candles to the cake.
May we keep showing up. May we keep living fully. May we keep getting older without ever getting old.
Happy birthday to me. Now, somebody bring me my cake and my reading glasses, so I can actually see it.
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About the Author:
Cat is a proud US Air Force veteran who has made it her mission to help women veterans transition from the military. She is a leader and speaker within the active duty and veteran community and her advocacy has helped her develop the Sisters-in-Service podcast- a platform for anyone affiliated with the military.
Cat is also the founder of the Small Space Pilates community. Cat feels privileged to work with midlife women to help them increase body awareness, mobility, stability and strength in a safe and fun environment. With over 39 ears in the fitness arena, her specialties include Personal Training, Pilates, Activated Isolated Stretching (AIS) and most recently her certification with CETI to work with cancer. Follow Cat’s Sisters In Service on Instagram for more information.
