Sunday, May 29, 2011

being 40

This month i celebrated my 40th birthday.
I've been alive for 40 years.
I've reached middle age.
Shouldn't i feel different?
Aren't i suppose to feel different?
Cause really, i don't.
In fact, 40 doesn't bother me a bit.
The only milestone birthday that ever bothered me was 18.
Yes, 18.
18 made me nuts, made me question everything i believed about myself, made me act reckless; basically, i had my mid-life crisis at 18. By that logic, my life-span would be 36 years so honestly, every year after 36 is a bonus year. There is no reason, in my mind, to be upset about The Big 4-0 because it is a right sight better than the big dirt nap.
I was talking to a friend who had been working on a Things To Do Before I'm 30 list and it got me thinking. It seems like a lot of the fun life experience lists are about getting things done before you turn a certain age, like you expire at that age or something. I think that it helps reinforce society's construct that we all have a Best By date stamped on our butts.
Screw that.
I don't accept that.
To celebrate that i am 40, i have constructed a 40 Things to do While I'm 40 list that can be found here. Some of the items i can finish at anytime, but others will take me the whole year. A few items might earn me gold stars, while others expand on resolutions. They all will help me focus on being present in my own life this year.
What do you want to accomplish between your birthdays this year?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm planning my mid life crisis at 92! Do you think that is a problem? I'm thinking I might have grown up by then and might act my age. Well.. Maybe. We'll see. :)
Ron
My to do list
I'm still planning to get married next year 2112. However, I guess that requires me meeting a girl, falling in love, deciding to be with them, and then proposing. Hmmm piece or cake!

Erin said...

My goal is to just survive having Irish Twins for a bit...and then party hard with Mom on our 30th/60th in January! Woot!