The Birthday That Made Her Think Differently About Age

Turning 43 hit differently. I spent my birthday in a coma, and waking up a week later was the wake-up call I didn't know I needed. It forced me to re-evaluate everything. For years, I've poured myself into my kids, my husband, my extended family, and the students and families I serve. Now, I'm learning to pour into myself, taking time to rest, explore new hobbies, and rediscover my own passions.

Turning 50 changed the way I looked at aging. Instead of wondering if it was too late to try something new, I started asking myself, "What if I'm just getting started?" and I've spent my 50s saying yes to things I once only dreamed about.

I celebrated a birthday days ago and realized that as I inch closer to 60, I still have so much I want to accomplish in my career. Predominantly, relationships, clients that I've yet to meet, colleagues that I continue to learn alongside, and youthful entrepreneurs whom I would like to share my well-earned wisdom with.

Aging means embracing every season of life with wisdom, grace, and gratitude. It may change how I do things, but it will never stop me from dreaming, growing, and believing in what is still possible.

Turning 60 gave me another interpretation of the word "influence" which can mean "presence." Much to my surprise, I was featured at a Bob Marley show in Trelawny, Jamaica by the performance staff of being "Sixty and Sassy" for being their guest.

There really wasn't a birthday that made me consider aging. In fact, if you ask me how old I am, my honest answer would be 1,000 years; simply because of all the experiences and everything I've learned throughout my life, I feel I have lived at least 10 lives. However, I always say I am '25 for life.' The years we have been living on this planet truly mean nothing to me. But I wouldn't change all the lessons that time has gifted me for anything in the world. True youth, to me, comes from authenticity and from being in connection with your soul. It's a beautiful combination of loving yourself so much that you can't help but radiate that love. And when you get to that point, time simply stops.

Turning 60 is more than a milestone; it's a celebration of God's grace, faithfulness, and the journey that brought me this far. At 60, I feel more like 50, with so much more life to live, places to go, people to meet, dreams to pursue, and accomplishments to conquer. I'm walking in a new level of freedom, less concerned about what people think and more focused on what brings me joy and purpose. I truly believe my best days aren't behind me; they're still ahead of me!

Turning 66 made me stop and really think about my life. Not in a sad, "my life is almost over" kind of way. Quite the opposite. As I look toward to 67, I find myself reflecting on how much life I have lived, what I've learned, what I've survived, and what I haven't experienced yet. I lost 60 pounds. I began working out three times a week. I started making rest a priority and became more intentional about reducing stress. My health journey became less about losing weight and more about gaining life. Maybe getting older isn't about becoming less. Maybe it's about becoming more intentional about what deserves your time, your energy, and your attention. At 66, soon to be 67, I don't want to simply count my birthdays. I want to make them count.

Turning 25 impacted me more than turning 30. At 25, I realized adulthood wasn't coming; it had already arrived. By 30, I had lived through enough difficult experiences that getting older no longer carried the same weight. I had stopped measuring life by age and started measuring it by growth, resilience, and everything I had overcome.

As I reflect on my birthday this year, I see how much is still possible. In 2026, I graduated from college, continued my journey as an author, and stepped into new opportunities through Faith Through the Fire Ministries. These experiences have reminded me that God's calling does not come with an age limit. After walking through painful seasons, it can be easy to focus on the years you wish had looked different. My faith helps me look ahead with hope. There is still time to learn, heal, serve, and follow the dreams God places on your heart. My encouragement to another woman is this: give yourself permission to begin again. You can bring your experience, your scars, and your wisdom into something meaningful. I'm grateful for the years behind me, and I'm trusting God with what comes next.