Growing Pains

“As you become more clear about who you really are, you’ll be better able to decide what is best for you —the first time around.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

So, check it out—I’m in my forties, and I’m still learning. Over the past several months, going back almost a year, I’ve learned a lot of things about others and myself that have made me stronger as a person, and more in touch with who I am. I know what I will tolerate, and vice versa. I know the people I will stick my neck out for…and I know the people who would do the same for me. I won’t make the same mistakes, as Oprah said. I won’t make the same mistakes next time around.

I remember my friend, Sue, saying that in your 20s we care too much about what people think of us–our insecurities are still too strong; in our 30s, we start to come into our own and we start doing more of what we want to do; and then, in our 40s we just don’t give a damn anymore. The drum is beating, and we are marching to it while we do our own particular dance.

As my new favorite muse, Oprah’s quote above is something that my friend Maribeth and I talked about today. It means a lot to me, and part of the reason I love quotes so much is because it proves that someone, at some point, has been there…has been in a similar situation, and perhaps has even worn our size 6 shoes.

We all have growing pains…some of the pains just last a little longer than others, but all of them teach us something.