64... How Did We Get Here?!
In the mornings when I start my facial routine, sometimes I just pause and ask myself in the mirror: “how did we get here?” I mean, 64 years is a long time, but it seems to have gone by so FAST!!!
When I consider what I’ve been around to witness: what major things have occurred during the course of my lifetime, like, the JFK assassination, the passing of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, the assassinations of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr., being bussed to school on the heels of desegregation, the passing of Roe v. Wade, the origins of Rap and Hip Hop. I mean, I remember being able to recite most of The Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight”, lol! When I entered college in 1979, I was told my dorm had just switched all the room keys from skeleton to what we know today as a regular “door lock key”… Yep! In college I was fortunate enough to have an electric typewriter, and I watched them over time evolve into fancier ones with correction capabilities upon entering the corporate workforce in 1983, then transition to the rise of the CRT Word Processor. This was a game changer at the time. I’ve lived long enough to see the evolution of cars and their prices, from the 1975 Pontiac Catalina I had in college that seemed to be two city blocks long, to the electric and sometimes self-driving cars out today. I’ve lived through using encyclopedias for information, to the introduction of the World Wide Web in the early 90’s with the joy and pain of dial-up, migrating through Broadband, cable internet, and now fiber optic internet. Who remembers MySpace and Black Planet? I remember having a brick-sized instrument with a long antenna called a mobile phone back in the day, that I kept in my glove compartment box for use only in times of emergency, or to inform someone I was running late. I remember you used to get a free phone when you signed up for new cell service, and now, you have to finance $1000+ phones, amortizing them over the course of a 2-3 year contract, yikes! I’ve lived long enough to see a Black man become president of the United States to now, where I’m watching the elimination and erosion of all the things I witnessed implemented for the betterment of people back in my early years. (deep sigh). It all went so very fast. So considering all of this, here is where I stand now, as I turn 64…
With God’s direction and order, from this point forward, in what’s remaining of my life, I’m committed to find a way to live all the joy, all the happy moments, do all the things that I want to do as much as humanly possible, and by any means necessary. I didn’t know what a “soft girl era” was until recently. Defined by Google’s AI Overview as “a trend that has gained popularity on social media, particularly among Gen Z women, and refers to a lifestyle focused on self-care, femininity, and emotional well-being; a shift away from hustle culture and a move towards embracing gentleness, kindness and self-love.” I’m sooo ready to live my version of this, and I’m starting to get a little excited about it! I’ve worked hard and non-stop for almost 50 years, and it’s time for a change… a big change. This year has been particularly rough, which has driven the point of change home. Last year’s word from the Lord was “transition”, and this year’s word is an extension of that, “reinvention”. At the time, I didn’t really know what that would look like, or feel like. But I do now, lol! This kind of change is quite challenging and painful, but I know it will give birth to something so pleasantly beautiful; like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly, and it will all be so worth it on the other side. So as I begin this 64th year of life, I’m determined to run on and see what the end shall be; embracing the shift, for the freedom of being able to move into a much softer era, to be, do and live how I choose to every single day, canceling the daily anxiety spirals caused by “the grind”, and infusing a lot more peace. And some days that may entail doing absolutely nothing… on the sofa… watching a K-Drama! 😉 #IYKYK
Good afternoon Ingrid,
When you ran down that list of people, places and things from the 60’s to the present it definitely brought back some relatable vivid memories for myself at 64 yrs old.
The self-care you spoke of sounds appealing! In particular after pouring into a Gen-Z son who will soon be independent of Dad. lol!
Ingrid It’s like the long human search for Utopia. Deep in the crevice’s of our soul
no matter how young or old we get we all are in search for a life of meaning, purpose and peace. I find myself periodically asking God what’s next?
Infusing peace sounds like a winner!
I know I said it once but Happy Blessed Birthday Ingrid!!!
Peace & Blessings
Pierre
Hey Pierre, and thank you again for the birthday wishes! And yes, we’ve lived long and worked hard enough to where I believe we are deserving of some peaceful, and restful, do what you want to do days in abundance, lol!
WOWWW. All I can say is W O W you look absolutely stunning for 64 Beloved… Happy BIRTHDAY to you — may you experience a wealth of Blessings you deserve!!!
You’re a sweetheart, thank you so much Tracy! I can’t take all the credit though. My parents passed on some pretty good genes :)xo