IMHO

Grow Older, Grow Better

Freak...I was just on Friendster a few minutes ago and clicked on the page of one of my "friendsters," an artistic influence I truly admire and was privileged to work with in college. And I was shocked to realize that he's now 45 years old. 45. As in 5 years away from 50. Almost half a century. Fritatta, buti nalang maganda pa rin siya - I swear, he doesn't look a year over 44. He he. Seriously, he looks like he's in his mid 30's.

Whereas I find myself four years short of 40. So this is what it means to get older but not feel any differently (sabi nga nila). I honestly feel the same way I felt when I was 27 (weird that I chose that particular age as a reference point) but I can tell you that, just like my 45-year old friend, I look so much better than I did when I was younger (younger as in 27, 21, 17!).

I think that's really the key to aging: grow better as you grow older. It's the Sean Connery/good cheese/good wine theory - as the years go by, you improve so much more that people won't even think of comparing your fabulous present self to your more youthful past. And even if they do, it's only to show that you've come a long way, baby. I don't ever want people to say, "ang ganda-ganda niya noon!" when they can very well use the present tense (and they do, albeit sometimes on cue, he he)! I don't think I would have it any way: I'd like to be able to say that the best I've ever been or looked in my life is the way I am and look right now - more interesting, better looking than ever. Even if - correction, BECAUSE I am - closer to 40. Add experience, wisdom, and the sharpened intellect that comes with age to that...and you're pretty much set the scene. What's more, the best is yet to come :-)

posted by Honey Oliveros @ 12:51 AM