The Glorious Age

If life is a train journey from Taipei to Kaushong, which station do you find your train at?

If your train has already passed Taichung and is on its way going down through the second half of its journey, did it experience anything that is impacting or impressing ? Although age is an unspeakable secret for woman, I don’t care to let the cat out of the bag. Since my 35 years birthday, the candle on the birthday cake is always “?”, never changed. Well, I find my train is running between 雲林 and 嘉義. Today I would like to share with you what a middle age woman has lost and gained; how a gray age can be turned into glorious.

I didn’t remember when the phenomenon happened. But surely they really happened.

Whenever reading newspapers, books or our agendas, I wish a spring hand; when going shopping I just let the price go and freely enjoy a non budget limit shopping. Because I can’t see the price label clearly; in beauty saloon, the hair dressers always honestly and sweetly suggest “Dying makes you fashionable and young.” I know they try their best to draw more money from my pocket, but--- it’s true; the magic mirror no more reflects Snow White’s tiny delicate face. Instead it is a slack face painted with spots and lines which became darker, bigger, more and longer day by day. So please be mercy, don’t look

close to me. The worst is a careless woman who is always busy in searching for things such as keys, cell phone, wallet, glasses--- you name it. Sometimes I can’t even find my  husband. Weak eyesight, grey hair, wrinkles, spots and poor memory---Do you know what those cruel facts indicate? Yes, I’m stepping into middle age.

A middle age woman! OH，NO！ What grieved and scared me are menopause, sensitiveness, moodiness, forgetfulness and colorless stereo type. I regretted why I neglected the physical changes? I was upset with myself as I didn’t eat 豬皮 as our president Cindy suggested as soon as possible. As time went by, I eventually became very disagreeable and moody . My husband couldn’t stand me any more. One day he said ”Aging is natural, face it. Moreover, no one pays attention to you.” Hit by his straightforwardness, I revived from the dejection and realized I am neither a 仙女 nor a妖精; I could never change the proceeding of life? Not even I pay $100,000 for SK 11 and 海洋那拉 ｗhen my husband was in the hospital.   

How come I stuck myself into such puzzlement? Is age everything? Of course not. There must be something in our mind which is beyond appearance and age, which is reliable and firm. Middle age is not gray. If I want, it can be glorious and shiny. Therefore, I did volunteers to humble my arrogance; I took different courses to improve my skill and knowledge; I kept reading to absorb mental nutrition; I did exercise to keep my body and soul balanced ; the best of all, I joined Fluency to challenge myself and open my mind..

Amazingly, all the upset and uncomfortable feelings were gone away after all these efforts. And what about the wrinkles, freckles, weak eyesight, gray hair and forgetfulness? Well, they still exist, most of them even get worse. But they no more annoy me. Witnessing every up and down in my life, they are my old friends. Now, you can look close to me. 

A middle age woman once was young, innocent, diffident, shy, meager and busy in taking

care of others. Now she knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is doing, and what and from whom she wants. Just like some sisters in Fluency, we stride proudly forward with our wisdom, confidence and passion to fertilize our lives, enrich our experiences and fulfill our dreams. So you can still call me snow white, a snow white over

4?. No matter you are a lady or gentleman, in what station, trust me, mid-life is a journey worthwhile.Ｉdon’t like to take the speedy train any more. Now I’m taking the 普通車 stopping at each station, slowing down my step and freely enjoying the wonderful scenery all the way. Would you like to get on the train together?