Jennifer Garner is approaching her 52nd birthday with excitement.

The actress, who asked her kids’ advice for playing about a teen in an adult body for Family Switch,  shared her attitude about turning a page on the calendar with People.

‘Honestly, mostly, I am grateful just to be alive,’ the 13 Going On 30 actress said.

‘And I’m grateful for the wisdom that I’ve gleaned out of these years and really grateful to be able to watch other women go through this process of life so gracefully.’

As she looks to their examples she wants encourage the next generation ‘to follow in their footsteps and tell other young women, “Take care of yourself, but don’t be scared. Aging is a gift.”‘

Jennifer Garner is approaching her 52nd birthday with excitement. ‘Honestly, mostly, I am grateful just to be alive,’ she said in an interview with People (pictured in Los Angles in June 2023)

The Party Down star said it’s important for her to take care of herself mentally and physically.

Her daily workout serves two purposes as it’s not only good for her body, but ‘it’s super important for my mental health.’

‘I eat really well. I just finished a big bowl of kale,’ she said.

‘And I have a really strong family and strong relationships in my life.’

While she often appears cheerful, the Golden Globe winner said she still has ‘down days.’

‘I don’t try to be Pollyanna all the time, and I’m gentle with myself.’

For her 50th birthday, Garner completed 50 acts of kindness. For her 51st, she and her children, Violet, 18, Seraphina 15, and Samuel, 12, planted trees.  She shares her children with ex-husband Ben Affleck, 51.

As April 17 approaches, the Alias star said she has a new service project in mind.

The Alias actress said she ‘eats really well,’ and her daily workout serves two purposes as it’s not only good for the body, but ‘it’s super important for my mental health’ (pictured in Los Angeles in March 2020)

For her 50th birthday, Garner completed 50 acts of kindness. For her 51st, she and her children, Violet, 18, Seraphina 15, and Samuel, 12, planted trees. ‘Every year I do something that I love to include people in that feeds me,’ she said of her tradition

Garner said she already has a project in mind for this year’s project. ‘To me that day is about: How am I going to look outside of myself? How am I giving back to the world that gives me so much?’  (Pictured in Los Angeles in November 2023)

‘Every year I do something that I love to include people in that feeds me,’ she said of her tradition.

‘Last year I went to a park in L.A. and planted trees with my kids. One year we loaded backpacks up to give kids food to take home with them after school.

‘I know what I’m going to do this year, and it’s coming together,’ she said without revealing what she would be doing.

‘To me that day is about: How am I going to look outside of myself? How am I giving back to the world that gives me so much?’