Aging or Ageless

This year has got to be the year when the so-called signs of aging have become very apparent:

- my face can't stay healthy without the help of expensive creams...it breaks out more often now...i have consulted a dermatologist for the first time in my life! before, soap and water and occassional moisturizing would do;

- it takes double the effort to lose weight and less than half to gain. before, losing 5 pounds in less than a week? not a problem;

- my body is easily tired when i lack sleep/rest. before, i could party from dusk 'til dawn, and still afford to go to work early and be up and about;

- my skin is easily sun-damaged...sun block or some SPF cream is now a necessity. before, basking under the sun for hours just drinking water to rehydrate would do the trick;

- i easily get sick nowadays (the weather isn't helping and my students all have the virus). before, a year would pass with me not having to file for a sick leave;

- my hair is showing signs that it needs treatment too. before shampoo and conditioner and the occassional hair cut/trip were enough.

My body is indeed not as youthful as I want it to be. Extra effort is needed to take care of it now. But these signs don't make me dread getting old.

Of course it helps that I get comments like:

"You're married already?! Aren't you too young to be married?" -- from a parent in school

"You're 32?! You don't look it" -- from a parent in school

(While buying a birthday gift for a 1 year old boy)
"Ma'am, para sa pamangkin nyo po?"
"Hindi. Para sa anak ko."
"Ma'am, may anak na kayo? Di obvious." -- from a salesman in Rustan's

"Where do you go to school?" -- from newly introduced people

(While buying a drink from the fastfood chain beside the school)
"Teacher Anne (they already know us), ang babata pala ng mga teachers dyan sa inyo, noh?"
Me: *Smiling*
"Kasi naman pag bata ang estudyante, bata din dapat ang teacher."
Me: "Hindi. Pag dahil bata ang lagi mong kasama, nagmumukhang bata ka na din."
"Pero, dapat kasing babata nyo para di malayo ang agwat nyo ng bata."
Me: Smiling...Nodding...Thinking: "Gee, how old does she think I am!" -- from a crew at the restaurant

"Teacher Anne, how old are you na?"
Me: "Thirty Three."
"Ha?! Ilan?"
Me: "Thirty Three!"
"As in three-three?!"
Me: "Yes."
"Grabe, you don't look thirty three! I thought mga twenty-something. Mas bata pa pala ako sa'yo." -- from a parent in school.

Today I turn 33. Even though "wala na'ko sa kalendaryo", I'm glad to know that I don't look old and I don't feel old. In fact, I feel young, alive and kicking! Oh, and my birthday wish? Nothing really. Just good health. My life is great.

Thank you, God.