Somewhere between my first reading glasses and my second knee crackle, I realized the world keeps trying to tell women, “You’re not enough.” Not thin enough, not young enough, not Snapchat-filtered enough. Well, guess what? I am enough; and I still have that one chin hair that grows faster than bamboo.

Yes, my arms wave independently of my hands now (that was covered in a former blog post). And yes, my knees look like they’re trying to be used as buoys for a cruise ship and my thighs could give cottage cheese curds a run for their money. But I am still enough. I don’t need to look 30 again—I didn’t even like being 30. I spent most of that decade trying to figure out what contouring was, who I was, trying to keep my children alive and why my jeans had to be so tight I couldn’t breathe.

These days, I’ve traded perfection for comfort. I will not apologize for wearing shoes that are orthopedic and cute (yes, they exist, don’t even fight me). I’m not going to starve myself into a dress that zips only if I exhale like I’m playing a tenor saxophone solo. And I certainly won’t waste time on people who think my worth has an expiration date.

My husband passed away after a lengthy illness. I tried slimming down, combing my hair and entering the dating pool again. I was told that I needed to talk less, act more mature, get a manicure and possible Botox and generally just not have an opinion. Guess what? I have something to say, I have earned every smile line, I like garden dirt under my nails and not laughing at life is just impossible for me.  I am enough and more than enough.  My wrinkles, wobbles and my uncanny ability to remember song lyrics from 1976, but not what I walked to the living room for, just make me more charming. I know, right?

If you are an aging woman, here’s your reminder: you don’t have to do more, be more, or look more. You are enough exactly as you are with wrinkles, wit, and the wisdom to know that a Wendy’s Frosty is a perfectly valid dinner.

In Closing….

So, the next time someone tries to tell you you’re not enough, smile sweetly, adjust your stretchy waistband, and say, “Oh sweetheart, I’m already everything—and I come with snacks.”