Ahhh....a new year - a fresh start - a list a mile long of all the "resolutions" to get done.
I'm not a big fan of resolutions because like everyone else mine seem to just be an opportunity to set me up to fail. I do however get into the purging, cleaning and organizing mode anytime there is a chance to re-set my life - January first being a prime opportunity.
This year however, it is my 40th year. Yes - the big 4-0 will roll around early July. The thing that freaks me out the most is that I remember, though I was very little, my Father's 40th birthday party at my childhood home. Peeking out around the hallway, I saw all of my parents friends in the living room laughing and living, right in the middle of the chaos that is now my life. I could never conjure up what 40 would look like for me when I was say 18 or 20. I could barely get past thinking of being 30. I had lists miles long then about what I would accomplish before the big 3-0. I must admit, I ticked off most of that list (the biggest being running a marathon, and traveling to Africa). My 30's brought a bit more stability - a serious relationship and marriage, a commitment to my work and reaching a high level in my profession, and then many struggles too as we tried to have children and lost precious people in our lives. But here I am - 39.5 years old - with two beautiful, amazing children, a warm home, a loving husband and a fantastic circle of family and friends who enrich my life. Was it Oprah that said - your 40's is when you get to reap what you have sown? I can only hope.
But I wouldn't be me if I didn't have a list of things I'd love to accomplish so I have compiled "40 things in my 40th year" - 40 things by 40 seemed too unrealistic since that would only give me 6 months. Truthfully, at this stage in my life I was a bit hard pressed to find 40 things (since trekking Antarctica or Nepal is out with two small kids) so some may seem mundane or silly but hopefully each one will enrich my life, my family, my health or my community in some way. Follow along, steal an idea or take a nap and be happy you don't have a list!!
40 things in my 40th year
Health
1. Lose 20 pounds (hopefully by July 10th - the last of the stubborn fertility weight)
2. Take care of my teeth (need fillings and fixes)
3. Sign up for 3 triathlons (June, July and August)
4. Do a long distance bike race
5. Get a mammogram
Family
6. Scrapbook Jack and Lucy's first years
7. Jack's life book (for adoption)
8. Move piano and get it tuned
9. Paint and redo Living room
10. Update our bedroom - nice makeover
11. Family vacation
12. Set up Lucy college fund
13. Date nights and putting marriage first
14. Try and journal once a week in children's books
15. Purge and organize Kid's rooms
16. Get a Family portrait taken
17. Visit Jack's birth family
Community
18. work at the food pantry
19. volunteer at church in some capacity (teach summer sunday school, mentor HS)
20. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or shelter
For ME
21. Blog more
22. Submit article to MOPS magazine
23. Re-write children's story and send it out again...and again...
24. Find out what i need to do to get my teacher certificate valid again and do it
25. Nurture important friendships
26. Go on a solo weekend away like I used to - to re-charge and re-energize
27. NYC trip with Hubby to celebrate my 40th. spend a few days re-living our
courtship
28. Finally have that garage sale and purge this house
29. Once I've lost the fertility weight go and buy some classic wardrobe pieces
30. Get a hair/make - up makeover
31. Girl's 40th birthday weekend!
32. Do our will
Ok - so I'm short 8. I'm sure as I move along I will come up with some more ideas. I do have the whole year. Shout out a suggestion if you have one!
