Forty and Fabulous

OMG, I turned 40 today. It's funny, when I was a kid I assumed I'd get here one day but never really gave it much thought. The assumption was that I would be married with kids, a house and a dog. The reality is I am single, in my own condo, with my own business and a cat who likes to sleep on whatever papers I am trying to work with. Not what I thought but not a bad life either.

I have a family who loves me, friends who flew from Alaska, Minneapolis and Los Angeles to share my birthday with me and a new career that I love. I have experienced tremendous personal growth between 35 and 40. I quit smoking, quit sugar, started working out consistently, changed my eating habits tremendously, and changed careers. I have discovered that I can trust myself to maintain commitments, not just with others but with and to myself. I know who I am today, I take personal responsibility for my choices, my actions, my thougths, words and deeds. I have plenty of room to grow and look forward to the challenges ahead.

Now is the decade to work on the things I have been avoiding, to shine a spot light on the parts of me lurking in the shadows. I'm not looking to change who I am. I am instead looking to embrace who I am in every aspect of my life...to embrace my humanity and the little imperfections I found so embarrassing in my teens and 20's.

Happy birthday to me...40 and fabulous!