I'm now 5 months into my 40th year. Forty, sounds so mature and accomplished like I should know what I'm doing by now. Unfortunately, I'm experiencing what I was told would happen, the more I live, learn, experience the less I feel I know. I'd like to think that what I'm experiencing is wisdom but I'm not going to give myself that much credit.
My parents were 40-ish when I came on the scene and by the time I could comprehend their life before me and their experiences they would share with me it seemed they had really lived. They'd lived in Hawaii, owned a horse, lived in a house with a swimming pool, owned dogs I'd never met and traveled a lot, just to name a few of their experiences together. But then there were their childhood stories too; hunting in the hills of West Virginia, playing jokes on siblings, family owned diners in Oregon and long lost porcelain dolls. There definitely had been a lot of living that had happened before and outside of the mountain home where I grew up. I was just sure I'd never get to do, or become, or have anything exciting.
Here I am looking back over my 40 years and by george I have a lot to be grateful for and there sure is a lot I've gotten to do, be and experience. It would seem I've had a lot of excitement too. I've really lived.
What stories of my childhood have I shared with my kids? Hiking in the mountains behind our house, being followed by a bobcat, playing night-games with all of the neighbor kids, taking my brother's bike without permission and completely totaling it by crashing into a tree, traveling to West Virginia, New York, Washington DC, Nauvoo, and Gettysburg.
Married life has brought 9 moves in 18 years (not nearly as many as my parents...(military)) and I've gotten to travel outside of the United States, twice. We haven't owned a horse or a house with a swimming pool and the only dogs we've had were after all of our kids were born, and I'm okay with that. Undoubtedly life has been good to me.
I've decided I really like 40. I feel good in my skin and that's a good feeling.
Looking forward 40 years is a funny undertaking. Our kids will be 57, 56, 53, 50, 47 and they could all possibly be grandparents! I most likely will be a great-grandparent!
That's kind of an exciting and perplexing thought.
I was talking through this issue with Rose and Hannah we decided it was funny we'd all be old together. I guess I kind of seem old to them now.
I decided there are a few things I need to remember when I'm 80+ years old.
- Please just get hearing aides. Everyone will be happier if you do. (However, hopefully they will find a way to fix hearing loss by then)
- Keep using the stairs, even when it's hard, it'll keep you around longer.
- Walk everyday. Don't stop moving.
- Dance everyday.
- Please pay attention to your blood sugar, I know it's a pain, just do it.
- Exercise your brain too, read and memorize.
- Go to the doctor if you're sick. Again, I know it's a pain but please just do it.
- Let your kids/grandkids plan and host family events.
- Don't be afraid to stop driving.
I'm sure I'll think of a few more, it's a list in progress.
I'm so happy with the life I've lived so far. It really has gone as a flash. There are times I miss simpler moments the ones before the kids had school assignments and soccer and music classes and dance classes and everything else....The funny thing is I'm pretty sure in a few short years I will miss the busy moments too, the evenings where we run from activity to activity and stay up late working on homework and finishing laundry.
Each moment has shaped and is shaping me and when I reach the end I'm pretty sure I'm going to look back and treasure each one.
That makes me so excited for the next 40+ years.
My Grandma S. told me once she wanted to live until she was 100 and die the next day just so she could say she'd lived to be 100. She passed away 2 weeks before her 100th birthday. I say that totally counts.
I've decided I want to do the same thing, live to be 100 and die the next day.
In the mean time.
"...we would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most."
This is my motto.
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