Birthdays and Belly Rolls

On my birthday eve each year, I think of how my life has changed over the years.  I thought I'd share a few of the things that have been running through my mind when I think of Tra back in the day and Tra today.

1. Back in the day, summer meant finding a cute bikini, rubbing iodine and baby oil all over my body, and my biggest fear was peeling from the sunburn I usually got.  Today, summer means finding a bathing suit that doesn't make me look fat (like THAT has ever happened in the last couple of decades), rubbing sunscreen all over my body, covering my face with a hat so I get get even more wrinkles, protecting my hair so my color doesn't fade, and my biggest fear is finding a melanoma (but I'm more afraid of being pale, so I take the risk).
2. Back in the day, it took a couple of hours to get dolled up to go sit in the grocery store parking lot for a couple of hours.  Today, half the time, I don't even take the time to put on real shoes (house shoes will do), must less makeup, and hopefully a bra to go to the store to get milk and bread and pray nobody sees me.
3. Back in the day, I loved to work out and looking cute in my clothes was a bonus.  Now I hate working out, but when I can't button and breathe, it's my only choice, and not looking like the Michelin Man with a blue tint to my oxygen deprived body is a bonus.
4. Back in the day, the fun started at 9, and if I over indulged, I could pop a couple of Tylenol and grab a couple of hours sleep and I was good to go.  Today, I'm ready to go home at 9, and if I overindulge it takes me a couple of days to get over it (kind of feels like I was in a car wreck) and I gave up on Tylenol doing ANY good centuries ago.
5. Back in the day, I had NEVER had a discussion about fish oil, leafy greens, home remedies for aching joints, brands of probiotics, and had never even heard of triglycerides.  Today at least one of these topics comes up in conversation every single day.
6. Back in the day, I had just gotten a cell phone,  my computer was on a desk at home and I only used it for research papers, and if I wanted to watch a tv show, I had to build that time into my schedule.  Today, I never go from one room to another, must less from one destination to another, without my iPad and iPhone and get p.o.ed if my TIVO doesn't record my show for me to watch at midnight when I finally get down time.
7. Back in the day, I don't remember ever staring at my face and body in the mirror and thinking, "OMG!!! This is hideous."  Today, I look in the mirror and not only think, "OMG!!! This is hideous, but also, OMG!!! I have old lady skin, I look 5 months pregnant, my knees have skin overhang, my butt moved around to the front (hence, the pregnant look),  when did I get that line between my eyes, when did I start having to pick my boobs up to put them in my bra, what is that hanging under my chin…." Well, you get the point.
8. Back in the day, I would've went for a run, stopped eating carbs, and hated myself until I got myself back on track.  Today I just say, "Oh, well," turn my back on the mirror, put on a bigger shirt, and eat another donut.

Back in the day I looked great, felt great, and had my whole life ahead of me.  Today I don't look so great, don't feel so great, and half my life is gone, but I am older and wiser and more content within myself and with the world around me than I ever was back in the day, so bring on the birthdays.  So far, they've only made my life better.