I have a very small group of friends that I see when we're able to find the time. There have been times when we’ve gone months without talking, but it doesn’t affect who we are as friends. These past few years, I’ve had more friendships fade away. It doesn’t stir me like it used to, and I know now that having a few quality good friends is a lot more important than having a bunch of acquaintances. I only hang out with those who inspire me and make me feel alive.
Getting older gives you the gift of feeling exhausted by certain people or situations and being 100% OK with it
You learn to lean into that.
Lately, I’ve really enjoyed staying at home, puttering around my house and taking it easy when my kids are with their dad instead of going out for a girls’ night or going shopping — two things I always used to do to occupy my time because it was too hard to be alone with my own thoughts.
I’m finding myself getting rid of things whenever I can. I love the feeling of a clean closet and not a lot of stuff around me.
When I shop, I’m now much pickier. I no longer feel the urge to go out and get something as soon as it sparks my interest. I take my time and really think about if I'm going to use it or wear it.
Getting older gives you the gift of learning that things and stuff don't make you happy for very long
I love having weekends that are free of plans. I used to fill them up with lots to do and felt like I was wasting my time if I didn’t plan events or run around all over the place. I always felt like we weren’t living life if we stayed home on a Saturday, or didn’t say yes to every invite.
Getting older gives you the gift of realizing that some of the best memories aren’t manufactured
And the realization that when you leave room for surprises to show up in your life — like an impromptu pizza night, or a trip to the craft store that turns into bonding with your kids — it fills you up in a way that having things planned and checking them off the list can’t.
I don’t crave fancy dinners or long trips. That urge to have a big dream house is gone, and I don’t care about being surrounded by friends all the time.
I’m at peace with less: less stuff to take care of, less plans to keep track of, less people in my life who don’t lift me up.
Getting older gives us the gift of spotting what’s really important
Your success isn’t measured by how many handbags you have, how your home is decorated, or how many people are listed in your Contacts.
What matters (to me, anyway) is having less chaos and stress in my life so I can enjoy the basics, like spending time with my family instead of caring for a big house and lawn. It’s about having one friend you can count on instead of a handful of people who aren’t really there for you.
And mostly, it’s about slowing down and learning that peace and happiness comes from the small things in life that we don’t get a chance to see when we are so busy trying to keep up with it all.
