This year, I’ll be turning 40.
There. I said it. My age is now out there for all the world to know.
Thinking about this upcoming birthday has been a struggle. 40 just sounds so old to me. It’s halfway to 80, for goodness sake, and I don’t know many people who have lived past 80. Something about knowing I’ve lived half of my life seems so eventual -- so definite.
That being said, I have various things in my favor as I look towards 40. First and foremost is an energetic, wonderful little 8-year-old boy who reminds me every day what it’s like to be young and silly. I have an amazing husband who has taught me how to relax. And I thank my parents every day for genes that still produce requests to present identification at over-21 establishments.
I think back on past birthdays and can only think of one year that has hit me as hard as 40 is going to in a couple of months. It was the year I turned 29 -- not 30, but 29. All I remember thinking was how I would never again celebrate a 20-something birthday. My thoughts and my fears fell to the past, about how my 20s were over and aging was inevitable.
Now as 40 bears down, I seem to be looking ahead, and that truly surpises me. I’m not thinking about the past and what is done, but about the future and what the rest of my life holds for me. I feel like I have reinvented myself over the last three to four years into someone I always knew I was, but hid for one reason or another. I’m getting to know myself, and although some people may think that’s pretty late in the game, I feel fortunate that it happened at all. So, to honor my 40th birthday, I have an idea.
I’d like to complete what I’m calling my “40 Days to 40 Years Old Mind, Body and Spirit Challenge.” This would consist of accomplishing one task a day in the hopes of energizing and strenghtening myself for the next 40 years. Some ideas I thought of were to do 40 situps, run 40 minutes, or donate $40 to my favorite charity. But I need more suggestions, and I’d like your help.
The challenge will begin on March 13 and end on April 21, my 40th birthday, when I will run the Seattle Seahawks 12K Run at the Landing in Renton, Wash. I plan to have the entire 40-day challenge compiled in the next couple of weeks, so if you have an idea that you’d like me to include, please comment and then I’ll post the whole challenge to my blog and Facebook before I get started so everyone can hold me accountable. Suggestions don’t have to include the number 40, but I think it would be fun if they did.
I think this is going to be awesome way to welcome 40.
There. I said it. My age is now out there for all the world to know.
Thinking about this upcoming birthday has been a struggle. 40 just sounds so old to me. It’s halfway to 80, for goodness sake, and I don’t know many people who have lived past 80. Something about knowing I’ve lived half of my life seems so eventual -- so definite.
That being said, I have various things in my favor as I look towards 40. First and foremost is an energetic, wonderful little 8-year-old boy who reminds me every day what it’s like to be young and silly. I have an amazing husband who has taught me how to relax. And I thank my parents every day for genes that still produce requests to present identification at over-21 establishments.
I think back on past birthdays and can only think of one year that has hit me as hard as 40 is going to in a couple of months. It was the year I turned 29 -- not 30, but 29. All I remember thinking was how I would never again celebrate a 20-something birthday. My thoughts and my fears fell to the past, about how my 20s were over and aging was inevitable.
Now as 40 bears down, I seem to be looking ahead, and that truly surpises me. I’m not thinking about the past and what is done, but about the future and what the rest of my life holds for me. I feel like I have reinvented myself over the last three to four years into someone I always knew I was, but hid for one reason or another. I’m getting to know myself, and although some people may think that’s pretty late in the game, I feel fortunate that it happened at all. So, to honor my 40th birthday, I have an idea.
I’d like to complete what I’m calling my “40 Days to 40 Years Old Mind, Body and Spirit Challenge.” This would consist of accomplishing one task a day in the hopes of energizing and strenghtening myself for the next 40 years. Some ideas I thought of were to do 40 situps, run 40 minutes, or donate $40 to my favorite charity. But I need more suggestions, and I’d like your help.
The challenge will begin on March 13 and end on April 21, my 40th birthday, when I will run the Seattle Seahawks 12K Run at the Landing in Renton, Wash. I plan to have the entire 40-day challenge compiled in the next couple of weeks, so if you have an idea that you’d like me to include, please comment and then I’ll post the whole challenge to my blog and Facebook before I get started so everyone can hold me accountable. Suggestions don’t have to include the number 40, but I think it would be fun if they did.
I think this is going to be awesome way to welcome 40.