Dec. 4, 2012 — I found my first gray hair at the young age of 26, which was not surprising because my dear old dad found his at 24. He’s now 61 and has a full head of snowy white wavy hair (in a pony tail no less). Since having children eight years ago, my pesky whites are taking over my head at an alarming rate.

As a woman, I have the option of dyeing my hair (and spending about $100) every couple months in an attempt to cover the pale strands. Or, I can choose to let my new gray hairs slowy mingle with my dark brown waves (and smile politely when friends comment on how gray I’m getting).

I don’t like the idea of paying the money or spending the time dyeing my hair, and I also don’t like seeing the little white sprouts when I look in the mirror. It’s a conundrum, really. What’s a middle-aged woman to do?

In addition to the gray hair dilemma, I’ve had to make decisions about my aging teeth, wrinkled skin, sagging body and forgetful mind.

Did you know dental crowns now cost upwards of $1,000 a pop? I have to replace two this year. Not fun. Between my two children and me, I’m at the dentist’s office way too often.

Worrisome spots on my skin (and careless sunbathing as a teen) have driven me to see a dermatologist. Skin cancer runs in my family. My grandmother had her first lesion removed the day I was born. She too enjoyed the sun a little too much. Sigh.

As for my rounder, softer body … well, I just have to do the work to keep it moving. Sure my back hurts, my shoulder is stiff and my knees creak, but being sedentary will only make those issues worse. Sleep and massage work wonders for physical ailments. My health is more important than watching anything on Netfilx or Hulu. The little voice in my head tells me to turn it off and go to bed. Sometimes I listen.

Decreasing my stress level is a hard one. I am a mother of two very active, highly hormonal twin tween girls; a wife to a type-A, extrovert who works two jobs and has many time-consuming hobbies; caregiver to 13 chickens and two sweet dogs; and volunteer in various capacities. I also try to have a little fun myself now and again, so busyness and stress only seems to be increasing with age.

However, before you start thinking I’m an ungrateful member of Generation X, rest assured I’m very aware life could be worse. Overall I’m healthy. In fact, compared to much of the population, I’m in great health. That is something for which I’m very grateful, and try to appreciate (when I remember) the simple joy of my ability to walk and feeling pretty good on a daily basis.

So, I will continue living with back pain, fatigue, stress and whatever else comes my way. I will continue to exercise as much as possible and eat as healthily as I can. I will try to count my blessing and think of others. I will continually try to get used to looking at my aging self in the mirror each morning and find the joy in living and growing old as a member of the human race.