Climbing the Peak of Life

This past weekend I gathered my college roommates at my parents summer home for a "girls weekend." Funny that we call it "girls" weekend because we are all in our mid-30s, have kids, and pretty tame - it should be called "Golden Girls Weekend." We spent most of the almost 48 hours we were together talking...and talking...and talking...and it was wonderful. We reminisced about college, and old boyfriends, we talked about motherhood and our crazy kids...and we stuffed our faces and drank good wine. It really was a great weekend.

We talked the most about being in our early 20s, as that was before we all had kids, husbands or really an responsibilities besides rent for our cheap apartments that really should have all been condemned. During one

Despite the weather we went for a walk

of the conversations one friend said, "oh to be 25 again!"

I thought about it for a second and said, "I would love to look the way I did at 25, but I would never want to be 25 again. I love being 35."

"Really?" she said, "wouldn't you want to go back to being 25, with hardly a care in the world? And know what you do now?"

"Not really. I love my life now and really wouldn't want it any other way."

My friend seemed pretty shocked that I felt this way. I went on to explain to her that I actually think my life gets better and better every year I get older. Sure, I had a wonderful time in college, and my 20s were a ton of fun, but I don't want to be that young, naive 20-something every again. I seriously love my life right now, and feel like the best is yet to come.

Another friend and I always talk about how her husband "peaked" in high school, and that he feels it has been all downhill from there. Not to say that his life is in a downward spiral or anything, as I know they have a very happy marriage, and incredibly awesome kids, but just that his glory days were 20 years ago, when he was big man on campus. His wife, my friend, feels the way that I do - that each day of her life is better than the next and that she is still on that upward climb to her life "peak." We joke that her upward moving life intersected with her husbands downward moving life (like on a chart) at the perfect time in both of their lives - hence their happy life together.

I can't help but feel a little sorry for those people that want to relive their younger days because their current days aren't bringing them the joy that they felt back in the day. I will be honest and say I don't feel that same joy, because it is a different joy all together. Back then I was having fun whenever I could - going out after work, going on adventures in the city every weekend day, working out all the time, taking impromptu trips to New York City, etc. - and those times were amazing and memorable. I was truly happy in college and in my 20s, but I am even happier now than I was then.

My husband and children complete me. I love the life that we have all built together. I wouldn't change it for anything. My friends from those days are still my friends today. We are all in different places in our lives - obviously not living together in the same mouse-infested apartment anymore, or even seeing each other as much as we would like to - but when we come back together it is just like it used to be. Ok, so we aren't downing the mixed drinks, daring each other to do things, dancing on tables or being carried home like we have on past girl's weekends...we are now enjoying what I like to call Golden Girls weekend, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Sure there are ups and downs in my life (I keep picturing the roller coaster metaphor from Parenthood movie) but I don't feel like I have actually "peaked" in life - and I think that is great! I wish all people could feel that way - to look at the positive in their lives, and not dwell on the good times that have past - to make more good times in their current lives by being proactive and positive. Does that make sense? If so - do it!