I’m Beautiful Like Me.

You were created to love and be loved. In support of Depression Awareness, we wrote love on our arms.

My university doesn’t offer a Forensic Science B.S. but I can tweak a Liberal Studies degree. I have done a LOT of research into this – prolly way more than I should have! – and I think it’s possible that I might actually have my future decided on. It’s terrifying! Especially since the real test is tomorrow.

Tomorrow, I dissect pig feet to extract bullets and evaluate the sequence of the wounds caused by the projectiles.

I’m oddly not disturbed by the prospect. In fact, at the beginning of the semester when the professor told us it would occur at some point, I was almost excited. I’ll admit that I’m a bit concerned about the smell. I’ve been more and more sensitive to smells since my last pregnancy. I am also nervous about what it’s like to handle soft tissue. I have managed really well with the bones in Human Osteology and Skeletal Forensics, but this will be my first time with soft tissue.

If things go well tomorrow, I’ll only have to decide between a focus in Chemistry and Biology (and of course, finish college). I meet with an advisor Thursday. 

This week has drained me. The kids were sick, Husband was sick and last night, I got sick. I feel old this week. Most days, I’d say I feel right about my age. I’m 31, I am married, have two kids, I have battled depression and have struggled with my weight for the better part of my life. I feel 31.

I took the RealAge Test earlier today. At this point, I’m still waiting on my results. I figure this is a good time to speculate on my results.

Based on the fact that I’m a good 20-25 pounds overweight, that I smoke and don’t exercise enough, the fact that I have problems sleeping, that at least one of my family members has suffered from breast cancer and that I’ve battled depression, I’m betting my results will tell me my RealAge® is at least 5 years older than my chronological age in years.

What RealAge® asks about is mostly health-related. However, there are a few questions about whether the marriage I’m in is happy and if I have friends with whom I hang out regularly or if I am active religiously. I think these things are every bit as important to how old a person feels as how good his or her health may or may not be.

Some days, I feel 18 again. I feel alive and impulsive, passionate and jubilant those days. It’s fleeting, yes, but those days happen on occasion! Some days, like today, I feel fragile and dilapidated. I just want to lie on the couch, watch football and ignore the demands of day-to-day life.

My results are in! And I’m surprised by them. I figured they’d age me at least 5 years, but they’ve got my RealAge® at 35.1, a difference of +3.9 of my calendar age in years of 31.2.

Based on my results, they have created a plan for me to make me "younger." Some of the suggestions they’ve made:

• Visit the dentist (fat chance - I’m terrified of the dentist!)
• Stop worrying (easier said than done!)
• Raise my good cholesterol
• Stop smoking
• Reduce stress (again, easier said than done)
• Eat more fish (blech!)
• Take a daily vitamin
• Reduce amount of red meat consumed
• Start working out

I can definitely focus on fixing a thing or two there. I’m marking my calendar to retake the test again in 90 days to see if I’ve "grown any younger."

What’s your RealAge®? Take the RealAge Test! It’s free!