Oh Hello 40

I turned the big 4-0 last month and some people have told me that they feel different after they hit that large number. I’m here to tell you, physically I feel the same but mentally I have improved because I am doing things that make me happy and am having no qualms about it.

I decided it isn’t going to be a one and done celebration, my 40th birthday is going to be a year-long thing. No, I’m not going to be out partying all the time (I’m way past the partying stage anyways); it’s more of a mindset. I’m going to do the things I’ve always wanted to do because I’m not getting any younger.

The week before my birthday I planned a small, casual brunch with my girlfriends and it was absolutely lovely. Nothing over the top and that’s exactly what I wanted. Some of them I hadn’t seen in so long. I’m glad we could all meet up and have some fun.

The weekend of my birthday my in-laws graciously watched my son so my husband and I could go into Philly for the day and stay overnight. We went to lunch, an indoor mini-golf place, dinner, and got to see the Philadelphia Orchestra play Mahler, one of my favorite composers. It was perfect.

For my big present to myself I booked a flight to Colorado to visit one of my author friends at the end of May. We both are published by the same publisher and talk almost every single day but have never met in person and I was determined to change that. I also have always wanted to visit Colorado. I love to hike but haven’t been able to do it very often ever since my son was born. And what better place to hike than Colorado? So we are renting a cabin in Estes Park to hike and relax and who knows, maybe we will even get some writing done. Either way, I’m calling it a writer’s retreat because I’m away in a cabin with another writer!

I am also getting ready to plan a trip with just my husband because not only is it my 40th birthday but our 10 year wedding anniversary. We traveled all of the time before our son and I’d love to do it more with him again.

I used to dread birthdays but now I use it as an excuse to reset and figure out what I actually want to do, because being a perpetual people pleaser, I don’t do it often enough. Who knows what I’ll plan for 50!