It happened earlier this month in Georgia. I was given a “senior coffee” without requesting it.

I didn’t realize it until I was sitting at the table eating and glanced at the ticket. My husband laughed and said, “Saved us some change.” My reaction was totally different. I spent a few extra minutes in the restaurant’s facilities looking in the mirror wondering if I truly looked that bad today.

I realize that I had bought into the cultural mentality that being old is something to avoid—which is silly because the real alternative is death. While eternity in heaven is something I look forward to, I am living my life to the fullest now. So, back to the senior coffee moment.

Since that day, I’ve been re-evaluating my routines. Exercise, healthy eating, weight control, laughter—all of these things were extensions of what I have been doing all my life. As for makeup, hair styles, clothes, to be honest I have adapted them somewhat. I’ve learned to accept my energy limitations more readily instead of pushing through them—because the recovery period is a lot longer than it used to be.

But none of this is really the issue. The issue is that someone noticed and acknowledged my age—noticed that I was in the senior citizen category—without me telling them. Why was that –in my psyche—a bad thing?

So I’ve been making lists of all the good things I am enjoying in this stage of life: a stronger relationship with God than ever before, grandchildren (and their parents, of course), writing a book, my husband (without his support I wouldn’t be writing a book), good friends, …

As for the things I miss, I’ve adapted the list. Every one of them has an addendum. So I don’t turn heads any more—I can enter into real conversations more easily (you figure out the “why” for yourself). I need more down time—I get to enjoy more down time. My hair is quite gray—modern hair dye is effective and actually good for your hair. What to wear—if I like it, I wear it, so who cares?

No matter what age you are, you’re getting older and closer to the next stage of life. How are you adapting?