The Older I Get

As you get older your mindset goes through metamorphosis,
you become less interested
in being understood by everyone around you.

In your twenties,
you chase fame,
attention, applause,
and the feeling of being seen.

You want the world to know your name,
to recognize your dreams,
to validate your existence.

Then when you cross over in your thirties, and your priorities begin to shift.
Your mind becomes occupied
with building a stable life,
paying the bills,
finding your place,
and creating something
that can withstand the storms of tomorrow.

Once you arrived at forty and beyond, suddenly,
peace becomes more valuable than applause.

You have seen enough drama
to know that not every battle
deserves your energy.

You have experienced heartbreak
and discovered that
a broken heart can still beat.

You have trusted people
who disappointed you,
lost people you thought would stay,
and learned that sometimes
silence is a better
than another prolong argument that leads to no fruitful resolution.

You begin to understand
that not every accusation
requires a defense,
not every opinion
deserves an explanation,
and not every misunderstanding
needs to be corrected.

Age teaches you
that peace is not weakness.
Sometimes peace is wisdom
finally learned the hard way.

So as the years add up,
you stop chasing
the approval of the crowd
and start protecting
the quiet inside yourself.

You realize
you don’t have to be understood
by everyone.

You only have to be honest
with the person
you see in the mirror.

Because growing older
is not simply about counting years.
it is about learning
which things are worth your time,
which people are worth your heart,
which battles are worth fighting,
and which ones
are better left behind.

And somewhere along the journey,
you discover the greatest peace of mind, which is, you don’t need to win every argument when you have finally learned
to choose your peace.