Well, I think that this one deserves a whole post because 50 is a BIG deal! Birthdays are kind of funny. When you are a kid, you can’t wait for the next one, to just get bigger and older and then they kind of just happen without much thought for a while. Then a big one hits, a 40 or 50 (in my case) that makes you think WTF??!! How did that happen? When I was a kid, I thought 50 was ancient, seriously, so old. My how perspectives change when you are in the birthday seat.
I have reflected a lot this year and the one thing that I feel the most, is gratitude. How lucky am I to live this life. The longer I am alive, the more I recognize the privilege that it is to be born, in Canada, to 2 loving parents. That in and of itself is a dream.
I am amazed how true it is that “time goes so fast”. Sometimes, I have been so busy just doing life that I don’t stop to think about all that means. I have officially spent more of my years with Jason than I have on my own or in my OG family nucleus. I am grateful to have found “my person” to build a life with. We have had 3 amazing girls that continue to grow into the most incredible humans. It is so cool to see them evolve and be able to be an active part of their lives. It is something that I cherish and do not take lightly.
I see them as sisters, and I am reminded how special that I have been able to raise my babies right along my sister and her family. Again, such a gift to have her not only as my blood, but we actively chose to live our adult lives together.
So, what have I learned and what lessons do I take with me moving forward? I have learned that the one thing that we can count on in this life is change. Things may be amazing, terrible or somewhere in the middle, but it will not remain, and that is okay. You really must be in and feel every moment.
Life is too short to worry about the little things. You only get one life (that we know of) and it is up to you to make it what you want. You have a lot more power than you might think. If you want something, go for it. What is the worst that can happen?
Finally, “it’s not that deep” (as the kids would say). If you don’t like where you are at, change it. Are there relationships that cause more harm than good? Remove yourself from them. Don’t like your job? Get a new one. Don’t like your house? Change it or move. Want to travel more? Go, take the trip. Basically, I plan to spend the back half of my life saying yes more, surrounding myself with the people that fill my cup, traveling, learning, exploring and being grateful for all that this life has and continues to give me. I hope to leave this world better than the way I found it. Here’s to the next 50!
Cheers,
Rebecca