You will appreciate it when you are older

Over the course of my life I have heard the phrase “you will appreciate it when you are older” over a hundred times or more. Of course when you hear this as a child you roll your eyes and wonder how simply getting older will make one appreciate things more? Now that I am starting to get a little older I can see how age makes a difference in the way we see many things. For instance last night I was at the drug store buying some cough medicine and the cashier asked me to see my license. This sort of thing does not bother me since I understand this is a precaution to keep individuals who are under age from being able to purchase things that they may be tempted to abuse, however, it was what came next that was the kicker. I was digging in my purse to find my ID to give to the cashier, anyone who knows me personally would know finding something in my purse is often a difficult task so it took a few seconds. Meanwhile, watching me dig the cashier says, “sorry to have to card you but you look young”. So I say, “Oh that’s ok I get that a lot… “. She then says, “but, you are over eighteen right?”. Haha I about lost it… I am seven years nearly eight years past being eighteen! And before I know it I say to the cashier, “I guess that is something I will appreciate when I am older”. I then completed my purchase and headed out of the store laughing inside that after all these years I get it… I get how some things take time to appreciate them. I realized that the same thing that bothered me when I was eighteen and trying to get into dance clubs, (i.e. my few months of wild life… haha I really did just dance) now at twenty-five made me smile and appreciate that I do not look my age. Considering I found a white hair in the midst of all the dark ones on my head the other day; I am happy to look younger than my actual age. Someday, when I have children of my own I am sure at some point, I will tell them “you will appreciate it when you are older” and they will look at me and roll their eyes. Then sooner or later they will have to make the same call I did and say hey mom, I get it!