I’m trying to get out of the habit of looking in the mirror every morning. I’m much happier thinking of myself as 40. Afterall, none of us see ourselves as others see us. We see ourselves through the distorted lens of our youth. Which I believe is a built-in antidepressant/protective device.
However, there are certain T-shirts that I really like but time and faulty washing machines have shrunk those shirts to the point that no amount of self-denial can convince me that I still look good in them. But I try them on, one more time anyway. Look in the mirror, fold them back up, and put them neatly in my drawer for another day. Still don’t look good in short pants though.
Now Barb has a different point of view. When she looks in the mirror the moans and groans start. She sees a very different person than I see. I look at Barb and still see the smile of the young mother that I fell in love with 44 years ago. June 13th through the 18th (I knew it was a teenth day) was our anniversary. I tell myself, “I can’t believe I’m so lucky to get to grow old with her.”
Now we are partners in Hava Java and work together every day. I tell myself that working at 68 and 65 years old will keep us young. Most days that works, some days the mirror wins.
But coming in most every day and talking with customers that now I consider friends does keep us young.
Some of them even know our scheduled shopping days and that always starts a conversation about the dangers of going to Costco. Tony and Joany are regular visitors from Fountain Hills. I truly enjoy sharing with them the goings on at Hava Java. I think they enjoy it too. I know I have mentioned this in a past article, but we do feel part of the community now.
Whether I feel young or old on any particular morning, I still must remind myself how blessed we are to be living in this part of Arizona with the mountains as a backdrop. I remember taking pictures of these same mountains 30 plus years ago and showing them to friends in Michigan and saying, “Someday when I retire (retire?), I will be looking at these every day.” If working at 68 lets me do that, then I’m OK with it.
My point is, troubles will come and go in all our lives, it’s up to us to look in the mirror, face reality, and be thankful.
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