Aging: The Grand Unscripted Adventure

I'm positive. I swear I am. But allow me to play devil's advocate for a moment. (Side note: I'm not a fan of the whole "devil" concept in a theological sense—just using the phrase because, well, it's universal.) But back to my original train of thought… Aging.

If this were a movie, I'd be sitting on a couch, wearing a wide-brimmed hat with a long curved feather, dark lipstick, a meticulously well-fitted 1940s suit—all in moody black-and-white Technicolor. The cigarette—held with effortless elegance—would send a long, white trail of smoke billowing through the air, creating a sultry, mysterious haze. Think Greta Garbo. Full drama. The perfect shot.

And that's exactly how I feel when I say: This piece is about aging.

Can we talk? Getting older has been done, like, a zillion times. You'd think we'd have it down by now. But somehow, we still haven't quite mastered the art of explaining the intricate, messy, and strangely poetic details of these rough and salty waters. It's like childbirth—something people have been experiencing forever, yet no matter how many books, blogs, and mom groups exist, nothing fully prepares you for the shock of it. Aging, much like parenthood, isn't just a phase—it's an entire odyssey, and the plot twists never stop coming.

And maybe that's the point.

I was watching a podcast the other day where a man told a story about someone who died and woke up in a place where he won everything. Every bet, every game, every single thing he attempted—success. At first, it was exhilarating. But soon, the predictability drained all the thrill from the experience. He grew restless, bored. Finally, an angel appeared to check on him. Frustrated, the man said, "This place is great and all, but it's starting to feel boring. Heaven is boring."

The angel looked at him and said, "What makes you think this is heaven?"

Let that sink in. Maybe the struggles, the unexpected twists, the reinvention—it's all part of the deal. Maybe we need the curveballs, the challenges, the reinventions, the shifting landscapes of our own reflections in the mirror. Maybe it's not the cruel joke we think it is. Maybe it's the secret ingredient to keeping life alive.

Crazy thought, right?

But if that's true, then aging isn't the villain of the story—it's the ultimate plot twist. Think about it. If we could have all the wisdom we have now but look 30 forever, it would be an unfair advantage. So life, in its infinite cleverness, had to keep things interesting. Enter: Aging. A fresh, new challenge. A shift in the narrative. A twist in the script that forces us to see things differently.

Okay, so we've accepted it. But how do we navigate it? Where's the manuscript? Insert Greta Garbo exhale here.

Some people seem to embrace aging effortlessly—like it's the most natural thing in the world. The smooth transition from rap to jazz, from red-hot Doritos to veggie chips. And then there's the occasional "ma'am". That one gets me every time. Like… Who's the ma'am?

But here's where the positive spin comes in.

Aging is proof that we're still in the game. Every wrinkle, every shift, every tiny evolution—it means we're still here. We're still playing. Still learning. Still laughing at the absurdity of it all. And if we're lucky, we get to do it with grace, wisdom, and a little bit of humor.

So no, I don't have a step-by-step guide. Some days, I feel like the statue; other days, I'm the pigeon. But maybe that's the beauty of it. The secret manuscript of aging isn't written—it's lived.

And maybe, just maybe, your manuscript will be the one I read.

Ciony

About the Author

Ciony Holloway transforms her personal experiences with aging into elegant narratives about living with power. Through her creative storytelling, she views each life experience as a scene in life's grand production, helping women reimagine their own transitions. Her gift for weaving metaphors into meaningful insights has made her a cherished voice here at the Age with Power Newsletter, inspiring women to embrace authentic aging with unshakeable confidence.