The Mystery of Aging

Aging feels like such a mysterious and complex thing—something I struggle to fully grasp. Watching my parents grow older has brought this reality into sharp focus. I still remember how strong, energetic, and full of life they were—what feels like yesterday. The moment it really hit me was when I was shopping one day a few years ago and noticed the sweetest “old” couple across the store. I smiled—only to realize that it was my parents. It took my breath away. Seeing them every day, I hadn't noticed the changes so clearly until that moment.

My dad, once big and strong, is now growing thinner and more frail. It’s hard to reconcile that image with who he’s always been to me. I see his resistance to using a walker—even though he’s fallen a few times—and I can only imagine how hard that must be for him. It's like he’s wrestling not just with aging, but with the loss of identity that can come with it.

There’s so much value in the wisdom we gain through a lifetime of experiences. That part of aging is beautiful. But it still feels unfair that we can’t hold on to the physical strength and vitality that once carried us. I’m grateful for each birthday, for the blessings that come with time, but the way our bodies change—the decline, the transformation of our appearance—it all remains deeply mysterious to me.