Don’t you dare stop being a blessing. Don’t you dare allow anyone to limit you or to define who you are or who you are not. No matter what you do, do not give anyone the rights to decide what you can do or what you can not do. Do not let them use neither your age nor your circumstances against you.

Dare yourself! To be the best of you that there will ever be. Dare to enjoy every day you live. Convince yourself that ageing is something that will work for you.

Just before I turned 40, there were all kinds of pep talk about what to expect as well as suggestions about what to do.

Some claimed that life begins at 40. Others said it was the beginning of the end.

I smiled every time I had one of those conversation. But, I was expectant.

The truth is that I have been living since the day I was born. I have been living fully and completely. And I had made up my mind that as long as I had life and was healthy, that nothing was going to rob me of that zest for life. And, I’d tell most of them that given the fact that I had my “midlife” crisis when I was 12, I was good to go! 40. 50. 60. 70. 80. 90. 100. I am good to go.

No crisis. No worries.  Without fears. Without shame. Just an unquenchable thirst and hunger to keep doing me and being better than the person I was the day before…

There are lots of things I wished for before turning 40 that I still haven’t got. One or two or maybe three more than the others. They are things that my heart yearns for. There are things that still make my eyes tear up with desire. 

But they will come. One way or the other. I am working towards them. I am preparing for their manifestation. My faith is strong and I know that it is only a matter of time, and they will happen, one way or another.

And in the meantime, I am busy. Very busy. Busy showing forth His glory. Busy bearing fruits in so many other ways. 

I am proud of my laugh lines, and my cry lines and my wrinkles. Both the ones you see and the ones you do not see. 

I am not too young for anything neither am I too old for anything.

It is true that I am not there yet.

But I will get there.

I do not question myself. I have no doubt about the promise. God has taught me to be patient with the process. I am growing and evolving. And when my time comes, I would have gotten there.

I am one of those weird people who have no qualms about getting older. 

I am one of those people who are proud of the years lived on earth. 

Honestly, I do not think that age is “just” a number. Age is much more than a number. Age is life. My age is a gift as well as a blessing. I love my age, every year.

I do not pretend to be who I am not. I am both proud and humble. And as I get older, it gets better. I have now neither the need to please people in my life nor the urge to explain or justify things I do or how I am. My humility helps me to continue learning and evolving. And it is my pride reminds to keep my head up and to celebrate every victory as well as every scar. 

I know where I want to be at every stage of my life because I am very clear about who I am.

I know no lack and I will never be disadvantaged.

Everything I had in my younger years were given to me.

And I know that as my years increase, everything I need will be provided in abundance.

My past has been such a blessing.

Today is a gift and I live fully in my present.

And the future is brighter even!

Indeed, I do not fear the years, not the fire nor the cold nor the scorching sun.

I am like fine wine, I get better with the years.

I am like gold, I get better with fire.

And I have become like diamond, I reflect brighter with sunlight!

And now to you:

Be like fine wine yourself.

Be like gold.

You must be like the diamond that you are.

Be proud of the story that makes up the beautiful person that you are.

Dare to be yourself. Dare to push yourself to be the best version of yourself that there will ever be.

And don’t let anyone tell you that you are too old or too young for anything.

Don’t let anyone convince you that you are too good or too bad for anything.

Be you and be proud of your brilliance.

Let your fire burn!

Let your wings soar!

Spread on every side.

And don’t you dare stop! Don’t you dare!

Would you have it any different?

#TME