Friday, April 20, 2012

Moving Thoughts Friday...Forever Young?


Every Friday I’m going to ask a question. The questions I choose might be ambiguous on purpose. The goal is to have you answer the question according to your beliefs, where you’re at in life or a circumstance that might have recently impacted you. The only thing I ask is that you provide an explanation for why you answered the way you did.

It’s my hope to understand you better through this and also to gain a greater understanding of humanity and how people make decisions.



I remember the exact moment it hit me that I wouldn’t stay young forever.

As soon as I opened the first birthday card from my parents signed Love, Mom and Dad as opposed to the familiar Love, Mommy and Daddy, I knew.

Do you recall when you realized you wouldn’t stay forever young?

19 comments:

  1. Great pics, Wendy! Thanks for sharing!

    I think it hit me around 25, when I had my second son. I'd always been full of energy, but after taking care of a baby and a toddler, I just felt older. I knew then--youth is fleeting.

    Still, enjoying this stage of my life. Thanks for the post!

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  2. YES! When my mom told me it was time for me to wear a bra. I cried and cried because I thought I wouldn't be daddy's little girl anymore. (But of course he assured me that wasn't the case) :-)

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  3. My 20th birthday. I cried and cried and cried.

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  4. I firmly believe old is a state of mind. While the years, experience, and maturity add up, I'm determined to stay young at heart.

    I love what the Bible says that those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint.

    Even if I live to be 100, I want to go out fully engaged in everything God has called me to do.

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  5. Not really but I know the one moment that really changed how I viewed life- when my father died. I was an adult but suddenly it dawned on me that I no longer had my rock, I was on my own. No longer did I have someone to pick up the pieces if my world fell apart. I was on my own. This was also the moment I realized I had never fully understood the love of God and how much I needed him.

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  6. Well, I'm not sure I remember that moment. But I do remember the craziness of saying goodbye to my parents when they dropped me off at college. And then saying goodbye again at the airport before leaving for London.

    I also clearly remember as a kid, I think in first grade, thinking it was time I should start calling my mom "Mom" instead of "Mommy," and same for Dad, but not wanting to hurt their feelings.

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  7. When I had my son. Kids are such concrete, visual proof of time passing. I also started realizing I related more to the parents of main characters in books, movies and tv shows, more than I related to the protagonists. Isn't that the way it is in real life? The kids become the main characters and we become the supporting cast :)

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  8. Wait? I won't be young forever?! Yikes.

    I think it still hasn't hit me, if I'm honest. But I think when I have kids, or when I turn 30, whichever comes first, that'll be the day.

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  9. I don't remember the exact moment, but everyday I'm reminded of how much older I'm getting.

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  10. Ok, silly story. The first year Dancing with the Stars came out, I remember thinking that I looked younger than some of the professional dancers and wondered how old they were. When I found out that most were like 19 or 20 (and I was already late 20's) I was flabbergasted! I truly couldn't believe it! Oh, well! One thing I can say about "aging", is that the older I get, the more confident I get!

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  11. Oooooh, love the photos! You are so lovely.

    When I quit being able to multi-task. That was a sad day. I still try, but it never works. I get spaghetti on my book, print my business cards upside down, and grab a regular Coke instead of diet. Sigh.

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  12. I think it was last summer that I realized that my body will not stay forever young. I had strained my back and couldn't stand up right for a week. The pain was terrible. An MRI revealed that I had three bursting discs in my lower back.

    Walking hunched over, I kept thinking - Is this what it will be like when I'm old-old? It scared me.

    After physical therapy, my back is better, but I find that I ache more after exercise.

    Now as far as my mind - forever young!

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  13. I don't remember a specific time, but I do think of it often now that my kids are grown. Love the pictures of you!

    Have a great weekend,
    Karen

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  14. The pictures are great, Wendy. I hope you won't think this is out of line, but your guy is gorgeous. Seriously, you could model heroes after him. And you already know that I think you're beautiful inside and out. What a great couple you make.

    I remember the moment I realized I wasn't going to stay young forever. It took place the first Christmas after I'd moved out on my own. I'm the oldest and have three siblings who were all still living at home. While they received the big piles of presents I was accustomed to as a child, mine was markedly smaller. That's when it hit me. I was no longer one of the kids. I was an adult, but I wasn't sure I was ready for all it entailed.

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  15. Having kids made me think more about my youngness (or lack thereof). But from what I hear, life only gets better as we age.

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  16. I love all the pictures of you and your girls, Wendy!

    I think it hit me when I was six months pregnant with our first baby. We were in the mall and we walked past a store with all these adorable bikinis in the window. I started bawling! It was the first time I knew I couldn't fit into a cute outfit. Life kind of felt over. That's sad, isn't it? But I found the kids keep me young! Go figure!

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  17. I LOVE these pictures! Love, love, love, love, love.

    Made me miss you something fierce.

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  18. When I was three years old my first grandparent died. It was a sudden, devastating thing for our whole family. I remember my dad carrying me to the car to go to the funeral, I was wearing a navy blue dress with colored stripes. We rounded the corner of our house and the sun and wind hit me and I knew. None of us would live forever and I wasn't going to be little forever, either. It sounds morbid as I write it, but it was actually a memory that I treasure because I knew where Grandpa had gone and my parents were amazing at explaining it to me. I also remember how much love my family displayed towards each other and how secure I felt in my family and still do. Interesting question!!

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  19. Wow. I'm really going deep here. I first realized I wouldn't stay young when I saw my father's health decline in his 80's. It was a rude awakening.

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