29 days
29 days left in my thirties
29 days before I become a “forty-something”
As I’m sure most of my friends can attest, 40 really isn’t that much different than say…30. Or for some maybe even the mid-late 20s. Once we started having children, getting married, buying houses, our lives just sort of jumped into “being an adult”, with adult decisions, responsibilities, joys, and of course heartaches. Maybe life should be defined by eras, rather than ages: the baby era, the toddler era, the school era, and the adult era.
There’s going to be a big party. I’m not one to hide the fact that I’m turning 40, rather I’m going to celebrate it! With lots of close friends. With the people that have been with me in this “adult era”, to enjoy the ups, and calm me in the downs. Of course my daily commutes to work have given me time for the proverbial “taking stock” of my life, of these first forty years. Personally it seems very strange to think that I’ve been around for 40 years. When you think about it, that’s a really long time!
I’ve done so much, have been so Blessed – to enjoy music, and theatre, both in the audience, and on stage, to travel the world, and meet amazing people. I’ve always been surrounded by wonderful people, many of whom I am still in touch with. I’ve been Blessed with a great education, and a wonderful job, opportunities to serve others, and an amazing church family. A healthy family, a good home, and great happiness. A husband and children that I adore with all my heart.
I have found so many ways to enjoy my life – through travel with my family, watching my kids growing up, spending time in my garden, riding my motorcycle, making the most of our family memories. I’ve learned to focus on those things most important to me – faith, family, friends, charity.
The last forty years have been bumpy, to say the least. And definitely not without heartache. Losing my mom was by far the most difficult time of my entire life. And while I know that everything has a reason, there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t wish she was here with me again. But I’ve also come to realize that each of those difficult times, be it hard times growing up, or losing my mom, was in itself a lesson. While I felt that each of my challenges broke me into a million pieces, I also know that in the end, what I was when those pieces were put back together was even better, even stronger.
That being said, I’m really looking forward to the next forty years, and all of the Blessings, and Joy, and Heartache they too will bring.
