The BIG 4-0

I figured a milestone of this magnitude pretty much demanded a blog post. Yes, today is the last official day that I can say I am in my 30's. Tomorrow is the big day...the big 4-0. (Insert your over-the-hill jokes here. I can take it.)

There are many thoughts rolling around in the cobwebs of my brain on this occasion. I've heard all the phrases people tell themselves and others to feel better about such an event. "It's only a number." "You're only as old as you feel." You've heard them all, too, I'm sure. So I figure I have two options. I can scoff at those people trying to cheer me up or I can embrace those ideas and take them to heart. I've chosen the latter option. I actually had a much harder time with turning 39. I think the pressure of knowing that in just one more year my thirties would be over was a bit overwhelming. I dreaded the next birthday for months. I suddenly felt the pressure to buy special face creams and every time I walked into a room and couldn't remember what I went in there for, I thought "Oh no, this is it. I'm losing my memory." I truly felt like my next birthday was a black cloud looming overhead and I wanted to duck for cover.And then it hit me. This is ridiculous. I have friends and family members who didn’t have their first child until they were forty! Physically, I work out almost every single day and I feel better than I have in years. Most days, despite four children who occasionally seem to conspire to suck the life out of me, I have plenty of energy. I know a lot of the current popular music (with a little help from those four aforementioned children, who most days bring me tremendous joy and insist that I not act like a dorky mom). I’ve reconnected with a lot of old friends recently, many of whom graduated from high school with me and also have this birthday coming up (if they haven’t had it already) and I’m not alone in this new phase of my life. I have a lot of dreams and goals for the future and much to look forward to in the years ahead.

My children are quite independent, with Devon being 9, Trevor 7, Mitchell 6 and Myah 4.


We are able to do so many fun and adventurous things together as a family. Forty really is just a number. That black cloud isn’t going to just suddenly appear over my bed tomorrow morning when I wake up. I also see this birthday as an opportunity to reflect on what has come before. I am proud of what I’ve accomplished in my life over the past forty years. It hasn’t all been smooth sailing and I’m proud of the obstacles I’ve overcome to get to this point. I brought three children into this world that are such a blessing and traveled 1/2 way across the world for my daughter. I believe they will accomplish great things in their own lives. I’ve tried to be a good daughter, mother, wife, sister and friend. I’m far from perfect, but I think I’ve always done the best I could and it feels great to look back and be able to say that.

So yes, forty is just a number. I feel inspired to reach new goals this year in honor of the occasion. I have wonderful family and friends who will help me celebrate. And when I wake up on tomorrow I will have a moment of hesitation but I promise I won’t start to cry. ...

If the last 40 years years are any indication of whats to come...then I can't wait...

R-