I went for a massage last week (because someone gave me a gift certificate), and halfway through the masseuse asked me if I’d had another massage recently because I wasn’t carrying any tension.

It was the ultimate example of how I’ve come to a place in my life where I’m at peace with my issues and that I’ve built the Life I Want To Live.

I have ADD (no hyperactivity) and was chronically depressed for most of my life. I’m 51 now and while that number is scary, after spending most of my life dreading getting older I’ve finally realized that getting old is awesome as long as you’re constantly working to improve your situation.

As a college student I would get crippling tension in my back, to the point that I could neither sit up nor sleep, from fear of failure during exams. 30 years later I would still have nightmares from it. There were times I’ve had to dig my diploma out of the basement to remind myself that I finally got there — it took me 9 years, but I got my bachelors degree.

Just keep at it, no matter how bad shit gets, and keep pushing forward. Visualize what you want your life to be like and keep the effort up and Getting Old can mean Getting Better.