Nothing says mid-life crisis like a good break-up. The split I’m battling as I turn 47 this month? Friday Night Lights (FNL) is no longer on Netflix. 

When I decided to embrace my disdain for running, FNL and Tim Riggins motivated me to keep moving. The show, which focused on the intense emotions of high school both on and off the football field provided endless distractions and empowered my inner competitiveness. The show, which ran from 2006 to 2011, became my bargaining chip to find joy in the journey of plodding along on the conveyor belt that never stops. It was an  opportunity to let my mind drift to the past and relive the highs and lows of high school, rather than focus on the agonizing pain that comes with back of the pack running.

But, as I age and Riggins does not, I found myself wondering if perhaps I should find a new crush that doesn’t border on jail time. Netflix made that decision for me at the end of last year. That left options like Gilmore Girls, Friends, Sex in the City: all glorious, nostalgic flashbacks of my youth, but certainly no Tim Riggins. Whitty banter, crazy clothes, the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, and nonstop relationship drama provide plenty of entertainment (to avoid duplicating the word banter) but cannot compete as Coach Taylor exclaimed before games, clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.

I eventually settled on Yellowstone and establishing a new crush on Rip, a reckless boy with endless, unconditional love for Beth. After all, who doesn’t love an all-or-nothing cowboy in tight jeans willing to put it all on the line for the girl? 

Writing about the shift from Riggins to Rip seems silly to ponder when one contemplates the extremes we’re facing daily. Yet, I find comfort in focusing my efforts on what I can control. My 2025 mantra is Peace. I chose it after my last race when I acknowledged my body is aging. That weight training and stretching are no longer noble ideas in a magazine or Pinterest post, but actually necessary. That leaning in and listening to what my body needs versus what I want is a blessing, not a curse. That aging is a beautiful part of life that reminds me that which isn’t growing or changing is dying. 

So I adjust. I lean into a new crush about a grown man willing to do anything for his lady. I transition to wide-width running shoes. I enjoy long walks, stretching in the sun, and taking a daily fiber supplement. I invest in a clean beauty routine while embracing the wrinkles and crow feet that come with a life filled with laughter and love. I do my best to be present during the endless carpooling that comes with rural living and a soon-to-be teenager who loves sports. I join the Lion’s Club and happily buy Girl Scout cookies from any kid willing to ask me to support their efforts.  

My peace mantra seems more critical than ever. In a world full of noise and distraction and chaos, I choose to lean into what matters to me. Friends. Family. Health. My community, which includes both Riggins and Rip, in case you were wondering. I see kindness and beauty and positivity every single day. It is easy to lose sight of that as I age, easy to be distracted by the noise that comes with speeding toward AARP status. Yet, if I pause for even just a moment, there are reminders all around me of the beauty that comes with aging. 

Even Riggins is now 43-year old in real life. Here’s to my taking another trip around the sun; may we all be so lucky.