I have to be honest – although I’m 44, I don’t feel a day over 25 most days. I 
say this up front because, while I’m never going to be the kind of woman who lies about my age – or doesn’t feel that every grey hair has been won – I don’t feel middle-aged. Most days I feel invigorated, young, and invincible and rarely do I feel my mortality.
Usually, only my children remind me that I’m at an age that I once saw as “ancient.” The older I get, the younger ages like 50 and 70 seem.
Last weekend, I got a text from my oldest daughter, who is now 21. A friend of hers, a boy she (and I) knew from the time they were 10 was killed in an automobile accident.
Beyond sadness and the sorrow she felt for his family, she was shaken. When you are 21, not only are you immortal and invincible, you are supposed to be unbreakable.
At 21, you plan for the future and see 40 as over-the-hill. At 21, you see the world as your oyster and believe that you will live forever. At 21, you believe you have nothing to fear At 21, it is the time to take risks and explore, because you are unbreakable.
And no matter what age we are, when we hear that a peer has died, we feel our mortality and see that the vessels that our souls reside within are truly breakable.
I can tell you that I am saddened as the loss of this lovely young man and have the deepest sympathy for his parents. And I have to admit, the news did make me feel my age.
However, it doesn’t diminish the belief that I’ve long held – that life is short and we must grab each day by the horns and live it fully, for we can’t predict what’s coming around the bend.
Seize the moments you are given and no matter your age, remember that live is meant to be lived and enjoyed.
A lovely post, Debra. I get so distracted by my to-do’s that I forget to really live. A kind and gentle reminder from you! So sorry for the loss of your daughter’s friend…
-elizabeth
I absolutely agree.
One thing that happens as we age is that more and more people in our peer group start getting sick and dying. It’s difficult for those of us who are middle aged, but particularly difficult for young people.
Great post, Debra! Now I”m going out to live and enjoy my day :)
So sorry to hear about the death of your young friend. Thanks for sharing this poignant reminder to live each day as if it were our last. What we regret most is the things we didn’t do, the risks we were afraid to take.