There comes a moment in every adult’s life when you wake up, stretch, and hear a sound that can only be described as a full-orchestra pop-crackle-snap symphony. Congratulations: your personal Check Engine light has officially turned on.
You don’t remember pushing any buttons, but suddenly everything comes with a warning. Knees issue notifications. Lower back is in “airplane mode.” And whatever part of your body is making that grinding noise? Yeah, that used to be cartilage.
At first, aging is sneaky. Your Check Engine light flickers now and then. You stand up too fast and nearly pass out—OOPS, temporary warning. You read something in small print and instinctively hold it farther away, like a medieval scholar examining a cursed scroll—ding, vision system malfunction. You think, that’s weird, and go about your day.
But one day, that light stays on.
Hair appears in places hair was never intended to grow, while disappearing from areas where it was contractually obligated to remain. You make noises when you bend over—groans that would frighten raccoons. When you drop something on the floor, you pause to determine if the item is truly worth the journey down. Spoiler: unless it’s medication or a French fry, it probably isn’t.
Checking the mail becomes cardio. You help a younger person with something tech-related, and they look at you like you invented Wi-Fi. You sneeze and need a recovery period.
You start comparing ailments with friends who nod.
“You have plantar fasciitis? Nice. I just unlocked acid reflux, level 4.”
Instead of shots, now you talk about shot records.
You don’t remember making the transition from “I can stay up all night” to “If the show doesn’t start by 7, I will be asleep,” but here you are, the human embodiment of an early-bird special.
The truth is: aging doesn’t mean you’re falling apart—it means you’re high mileage, like a classic car. Sure, a few warning lights stay on. But you’ve got stories, life experience, and a glove compartment full of wisdom (and maybe antacids).
So, when that inner Check Engine light blinks, just smile and say:
“Hey, at least the engine’s still running.”