IT HAPPENED ! Despite all my protest, tears and fighting it...the inevitable happened ...Sigh. For those not in the "loop" ...turning 40 has been a rather traumatic event in my life ...and despite my best intentions...it happened anyways ! How RUDE ! :D
Yes, I have been told on many occasion: it is JUST a number...etc...It doesn't matter what age you are...you are only as young as you feel...but you don't "look" 40 (like :40 has a "look"?!)...wow...you reached a milestone...etc. Well let me tell you this : it MAY be all those things and YES I understand its "all in my head" but I feel the way that I feel. I have come out on the "other side" of this event and you know what? ITS AWESOME !
When I was a teen, I couldn't wait to be old enough to become and an adult and have adult responsibilities. Like: What what I THINKING?! Life was so much simpler then and my decisions weren't as life altering or did anyone depend on the outcome of any choice I made. Someone on Facebook said that they wish they could turn back time to the "80's" when life was much simpler and you could resolve most issues with good music and a night out with some friends. Ah ...yeh !
So why all the turmoil? Hmm...I guess you could say it's because when you reach a "0" number its a time of reflection. What have you achieve in a decade? What changes have happened? What growth in body, mind and spirit have been made? I have a GREAT life and I am richly blessed. Yes, things have changed quite dramatically in my "decade" of life...did I meet all my goals? No, not all of them. But my life is a "process" of learning and growing so I guess I can tick that box!
On the day of my birthday, I took the day off work and with my BFF (who unfortunately had to cancel due to having a sick child) went to a day spa for a relaxing massage and facial. OH HEAVENLY BLISS ! My therapist was a mid-20 something Irish gal with magical hands and a very lovely manner. She had travelled the world and has been to every continent. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. I was SO deeply envious and by the time I had left the salon, I was melancholy too...regretting that I had not had had the same wonderful experiences. Driving along the freeway my CD player changed tracks and the next "random" song (it was on shuffle...so I had 60 odd songs it could have chosen from) was "Count Your Blessings". Like : WOW ! What a kick in the pants reminder ! I AM blessed. VERY BLESSED IN DEED. So with tears of thankfulness to my Father in Heaven, my attitude changed.
Once home, the phone kept ringing, email and Facebook messages rolled in. Friends ! How truly wonderful. My fabulous family locked me in my bedroom with my laptop and transformed the living area and cooked me a three course meal ! Visitors dropped by and oh WOW ! I felt the overwhelming love of friends, family and again my heart was full to bursting! Turning 40 isn't so bad after all !
Sure we all have "regrets" about things we didn't get to do. Sure we are going to moan and groan about the "lost years" but you know what? I don't think I would change any of the experiences or challenges I have had because they have made me into the person I am today. Each day is a new beginning full of surprises and adventure. Goals need to be set and achieved and ONE DAY I too will be able to share my travel adventures with a stranger. There are too many things to do and learn to waste time on regrets. Really. They say "life is for living". I think they maybe onto something there !
Thank you wonderful family for putting up with me as I reached this milestone ! Love you all ! ;)
