Time Measures 62 Today; I Say 18

My Thoughts on My Day

By Polly Bell Banks

July 27, 2001

Yesterday I was only 18, paused to take a short nap, and awoke to find that life had moved on, leaving my youth behind and in its place an older, wiser, more mature woman—wiser only by the hard life lessons learned. I look in the mirror and think “matronly.”

What happened to the girl that was and who still lives inside my heart and mind? My thoughts are still young; I enjoy having fun, I love to laugh, and I still look forward to tomorrow.

But why can’t I move at the pace I need, what caused this slowing of my step, where did all this gray hair come from? I’m still young! I have a young heart that still hopes to find that one lasting love that has so far eluded me in all the years past. I still dream! I still hope! I still need! These are not an old woman’s thoughts!

I idly hum the old song which states that “love, like youth, is wasted on the young.” I believe that! We were in such an awful hurry to leave “youth” behind, and now we cling to those memories, thinking that by owning them, we can go back.

I just want to believe that I never left my youth. I only changed the housing, not the engine which propels me. So what if my step has slowed! Now I have the time to treasure each moment and totally appreciate the truly important things in life—love, family, sharing and giving, a beautiful sunset, a front porch swing, an evening with good friends—those things that

youth couldn’t slow down to appreciate. I don’t have to run the race anymore. I can just relax and enjoy the win! We have it all!

I am Woman! I am Free!

I am Young! I am Me!