Like a Fine Wine ...

As I age and can now look back on my life in terms of decades versus years  …

*shudder*

… I wish I could go back and tell my younger self a few things.

To Teenage Linda,

You have a lot more to offer than you give yourself credit for.  Oh, and you’re not as awkward and unattractive as you think.  You’ll learn all of this at your 30 year high school reunion …

To College Linda,

Spend more time in class and less at the frats … and bars … and tailgating at Penn State football games ...

To 20’s Linda,

You do realize your bikini wearing self is totally benefiting from all those years in elementary, junior, and high school doing gymnastics, right?  And that it won’t last forever, right?  So why don’t you give post-child-bearing 30’s Linda a fighting chance and get your skinny-you-know-what self to the gym from time to time.

You know.  Pay it forward ...

To 30’s Linda,

Stop wanting your kids to grow up and be able to do things for themselves.  They’ll be big before you know it … so celebrate all those diaper changes and bottle feedings and spooning mushy food into their mouths.  And take all the hugs and kisses and snuggles that you can get …

… oh, and do 40’s Linda a favor and do some stomach crunches a few times a week, okay?

To 39 Year Old Linda,

Stop freaking about 40.  It’s just a number …

… and what you should really be freaking out about?  You didn't do any stomach crunches in your 30’s.

I wonder what I’ll look back on in the next decade and tell 40’s Linda?  Gravity isn’t so bad after all … well, at least not compared to 50’s and 60’s Linda?  Creating the blog was the best – or worst -- thing you did?  Quitting smoking was well worth that impossible to lose 10 pound weight gain?

And to those brand new terracotta pots that I was inspired to age by these fabulous blogging sister sensations?   Can I apologize for not taking more time aging you?

In all honesty, I skipped a few steps and just slapped on some paint with a foam brush and then hit them with sandpaper only.  And I should have started sanding sooner while the paint was still wet.  Like those blogging sisters did.  So learn from my mistakes and work on one or two pots at a time ...

But don’t worry, my not so perfectly aged terracottas. I’m not through with you yet … there is more paint in your future ….

… I’ll make sure you age like a fine wine …

… just like 49-year-old Linda.

Linda is a wife, mother, Chicago homeowner … and creator and author of it all started with paint blog.  You can find her on Facebook here … and follow her on Twitter here …