What do you appreciate more now you're older

[Perpetuallyperplexed27]

For me it's getting up early and enjoying the morning. When I was younger I would stay up late and sleep all morning. Now I find it really enjoyable to be up early and get out to walk the dogs and enjoy a nice sky! Seems to get the day off on a productive foot and makes me feel like I have a lot more time during the day.

Other things - a good coffee and taking care of my health.

Naps
Early mornings
Wine
Gardening

Christ i sound old, I'm 42

I love early mornings too - even in winter. Such a peaceful time.
I appreciate going to bed early.
Exercise as a way to wellbeing

my own company

Early mornings
Wine
Cleaning/having a clean home
Doing nothing
A good book
Homeware shopping
A well-styled room
Quality TV
Vegetables
Early night
Self-confidence

Peace and quiet 👵🏼

I have also developed an obsession with light- what light comes into the house at what time of day/ year, what light people’s gardens get, that sort of thing. My younger self used to avoid all light, apart from the ones in nightclubs.

I love early morning walks with my dogs - just me and my thoughts

I love not worrying about what everyone else thinks

I love wearing comforable clothes and shoes instead of what's trendy (much to my DDs horror )

I love that I've realised how lucky I am to have a good DH, he's always there at my side and all the things that have driven me mad over the years seem so irrelevant....... there is absolute trust and dependency.

My own company.
Being able to watch 'my' programmes (and box sets) when l like.
Going to bed and getting up when l like.
Not having to cook unless l want to.
Being able to have my hobby stuff lying around when l'm using it.
Having peace of mind. l'm not well off by any means but as l've got older l don't sweat the small stuff. l used to be a complete worry wart but age had made me realise that 99% of the things l used to anticipate and worry about didn't happen, and the ones that did, l dealt with.
Loving where l live and having lovely neighbours. l've had bad ones in the past and l really appreciate the ones l have now.

Lovely thread.

Staying in
Not caring what people think of me
Enjoying one or 2 glasses of wine instead of shots ( no hangover)
Old friends

Sleep! I used to stay up all night with friends but I go to bed by half 10 every night now including weekends.

I also appreciate the peace and quiet of being in nature. I was always a fast paced city girl growing up and found the countryside boring. I’m the total opposite now.

Having a tidy home. Again I used to be the opposite growing up and was incredibly messy.

Nights in with my DP watching a film and eating a yummy home cooked dinner. My partying days are over and I don’t miss them at all!

Another one of mine is staying in and having a few glasses of wine at home on a Saturday night in my pjs instead of prancing around town in heels feeling freezing paying over the odds in grotty clubs!

Staying in with my husband on a weekend evening with a takeaway and a good film.

Health
Good relationships
Putting on my pjs
Becoming a crazy cat lady

My education. My dad lived by "If you think education is expensive, you should see the price of ignorance" and as I've gotten older and gained perspective on my earlier life, I think that his approach made a clear difference. (And not just in financial sacrifice, but in teaching me that education, reading, learning was the highest priority for us.)

Other people, friendships and community connections - I was always sort of threatened or frightened by being close to other people when I was younger. Now I can't leave the house without bumping into someone I know and having a chat, and I really enjoy it.

Loads of the above, but also a boring life.
Zero drama is something I relish and I am so happy that my life is unremarkable aside from the good stuff.

So far...

Early mornings,
simple food rather than rich stuff,
running in the fresh air
Occasional early night

She's dead now, but I appreciated my mother much more when I became one myself.

Good books, good health, clean & comfortable clothes/shoes instead of killer heels/dress to impress.

Another one for early mornings. I love getting up and spending time alone with my cats, journalling or doing my gratitude list with a cuppa before everyone wakes.

Meditating. I used to think it was gumpf but I really feel the amazing benefits and it gives me a kind of high for the day (I'm not smoking or ingesting anything during the meditation I promise )

My own company
Red wine
A quiet pub instead of a nightclub
Comfortable pyjamas
Comfortable underwear
A cup of decent tea
Lamps and candles
Blankets
Fine windy days (to dry washing)

Lovely thread

Clean sheets and a lovely big catalogue that I can flick through
God I'm sad

Being alive!
Comfy shoes
Quality over quantity

ooh love this thread
Countryside
walks on my own
Feeding the birds
Cooking and baking in a warm kitchen on a Sunday
Blanket, log fire and good book
Bath and not worrying about hair/make up afterwards
That feeling of being (hopefully) slightly wiser and nodding sagely, because you know it will all work out in the end

Silence
Early mornings and early bedtimes
The changing of the seasons
Tea
Sleep
A quiet, simple life (as far as I can possible achieve it, not always easy!)

Not having to get up too early.
Sleep.
Being comfortable financially.

Beautiful scenery and classical music.