Aged to Shine

When I was younger,

I thought older meant boring.

Then I got older.

...Turns out I was just an idiot.

Cute idiot, though.

I used to count birthdays like doors closing down,

Like every new number took something somehow.

Twenty wanted everything RIGHT NOW,

Didn't know where I was going but said it real loud.

Then life took a couple wrong turns for me,

Lost some people, lost sleep,

lost certainty. But somewhere between 'What the hell do I do?' And

right here— I started liking the view.

OLDER

LOOKS GOOD ON ME!

Every year took something,

gave something free. Got a little less time,

got a lot more me,

And I LIKE WHO I'M TURNING OUT TO BE!

If you offered me twenty with everything I know—

Nah.

I THINK I'LL KEEP GETTING OLD!

(GETTING OLD!) Don't sound so excited.

Got better at leaving when leaving makes sense,

Better at spotting expensive nonsense.

Better at knowing who's really my friend,

Better at saying 'No' without explaining again.

Young me had fire!

(SHE DID!) She also had terrible taste.

(SHE DID!) Current me's smarter. (SOMETIMES!)

Watch it. I lost some speed but I found my direction,

Lost some innocence, gained detection.

Every little wrinkle's just proof somehow That every old version got me

to now.

Are we done fighting about which age was best?

Good.

One day I'll look at me right now

and think she was young too.

That's the funny part.

We never know we're living the years we'll miss

until they're through.

So I'm not missing this one.

OLDER LOOKS GOOD ON ME!

I've been seventeen different people already!

Every one fell down,

every one got me

ONE STEP CLOSER TO WHO I'M GONNA BE!

Don't turn that clock back— TURN THE MUSIC UP!

I ain't running from the years,

I'M RUNNING WITH 'EM!

(HOW OLD?) Old enough!

(HOW YOUNG?) YOUNG ENOUGH!

(WHAT'S NEXT?) Hopefully a lot!

Wouldn't go backward.

I'm not done becoming me.