My mother is turning 60 this year. And if I look half as good as she does at that age, I’m going to be a serious senior-discount card wielding hottie.

Fast forward 25 years into my future and this is what my 60 year old self might say to my 34 year old self:

1. Your daughters will someday be your best friends.
2. Children’s school days speed by in two blinks so keep your eyes open. And so does their innocence.
3. You’d better get your eating habits under control because its gonna get real hard real soon to lose any weight.
4. Pay attention to your husband. You don’t want to stand next to one another at your daughter’s high school graduation and realize you don’t know him.
5. You are young. I know you already see the laugh lines, the ones around your eyes and the few grey hairs…but trust me, you don’t know what it feels like to age yet.
6. Take some lessons in courage from your daughters. They are already far braver than you.
7. You are only beginning to have influence. Use this power wisely.
8. Your seven-year-old will stop holding your hand soon.
9. And your three-year-old won’t always ask you why you are wearing gummy vitamins around your neck (see photo). Soon she’ll be able to understand the complexities of Calculus (and while we are on the subject of necks…).
10. Be the best mom and wife you can be right now with the time and resources you have. There are no do-overs here.

I don’t know. Maybe I’m learning all this stuff now. Or maybe I’m going to need reminded in 25 more years when my hips hurt and I’ve long ago switched from jogging to walking.

All I know is that I spend time more quickly than I spend money. And that time is more precious than any diamond rings or paid-off mortgage.

So I hope when I am 60, I wear my age as well as my mother, proudly and without excuse because I know I’ve done well, lived well and not wasted the time.