Study Finds Aging Brings Wisdom—Lana Reid Reflects on Life Lessons
Growing Older, Growing Wiser: Reflections on the Journey
A 2022 study from PMC showed that people who report higher satisfaction with aging tend to experience better subsequent health and well-being. That finding stopped me in my tracks—because when I look back, I see that growing older is an honor, but growing wiser has been the true gift.
As I reflect on my life’s journey, those words resonate deeply with me. The years have added up, but what they’ve left behind is far more valuable than candles on a cake. They’ve given me perspective. They’ve given me clarity. Most of all, they’ve given me wisdom that only comes with living, stumbling, and getting back up again.
The Early Chapters
When I was younger, I measured life in milestones—graduations, jobs, relationships, accomplishments. I believed success was about checking boxes and hitting targets. If I wasn’t moving fast enough, I thought I was falling behind.
But as the years passed, I realized life doesn’t unfold on a timeline we can control. Doors close. Opportunities shift. People come and go. And through it all, I learned that success is not about how quickly you arrive, but how fully you live. Some of my greatest growth came not from achievements, but from setbacks that forced me to pause, reflect, and begin again.
Lessons in Relationships
Growing wiser has also meant learning the importance of relationships—the ones that lift you, and the ones that teach you when it’s time to let go. I’ve had seasons where I held on too tightly, believing loyalty meant staying no matter the cost. Over time, wisdom showed me that boundaries are not walls; they are acts of love for yourself and others.
I’ve also learned that sometimes, the blood of the covenant is stronger than the water of the womb. In other words, family isn’t always about who you’re related to by birth—it’s about the tribe you choose, the people who show up for you, honor your growth, and walk beside you through every season.
The people who are meant to walk with you will honor your growth. And the ones who drift away? Sometimes their part in your story was only meant for a chapter, not the whole book.
Embracing Change
Another lesson wisdom has given me is learning to embrace change rather than fear it. Change is life’s constant companion, and resisting it only leads to frustration. With age, I’ve come to see change as an invitation: to adapt, to grow, and to trust that what lies ahead may be even better than what I leave behind.
Instead of asking, “Why me?” I’ve learned to ask, “What lessons am I learning from this?” That simple shift has turned challenges into classrooms and uncertainty into opportunity.
The Gift of Gratitude
Perhaps the greatest blessing of growing wiser is gratitude. Gratitude for the moments that didn’t go as planned, because they redirected me. Gratitude for the people who challenged me, because they sharpened me. Gratitude for the quiet mornings and the loud laughter, the tears and the triumphs—because together they tell the story of a life well-lived.
I no longer strive for perfection. Instead, I choose peace. I choose joy. I choose to notice the blessings that were always there, even when I was too busy to see them.
And I’ve come to realize that time is not the enemy. When I was younger, I often felt like I was racing against the clock, trying to arrive at some finish line. But wisdom has shown me that time, if understood and respected, can be our greatest tool. Time gives us space to heal, to grow, to try again. It reveals lessons we weren’t ready to learn before. And it proves that every season, even the difficult ones, carries meaning.
Looking Forward
Growing older is not something I take for granted. Every birthday reminds me that I am still here, still learning, still becoming. Each year, I find myself less concerned with the speed of the journey and more invested in the depth of it.
The honor is in the years. But the blessing—the true, lasting blessing—is in the wisdom those years leave behind. And that wisdom is not just for me—it becomes part of the legacy I leave for others. Every lesson, every story, every scar and triumph adds to a body of knowledge that can guide those who come after us.
In the end, it’s not just about what we achieve in our lifetime, but about the truths we pass on. Wisdom shared is a gift that outlives us, reminding others that time is precious, growth is possible, and love is the strongest legacy of all.
🎥 Watch my reflection here on YouTube:
Lana ReidAuthor, Speaker, Podcaster, Servant