Last week was my birthday. I turned 42.
Here is a list of 42 things I’ve learned so far (in no particular order).
1: Do not buy whipped cream or dark chocolate chips in bulk size at Costco.
2: There are more good people than bad ones.
3: Nagging is pointless.
4: Life’s weird so I better make the best of it.
5: There is nothing more valuable than a good husband.
6: It’s an amazing feeling to love where you live.
7: Yoga is not a waste of time. It’s actually really good for my body and mind.
8: Kangaroos are a lot gentler than I had imagined. (It could be that the ones I met were very tame.)
9: Reunion island food is amazing (and I’ve tried quite a few different cuisines)
10: Waterfalls are one of natures most spectacular gifts.
11: Lying on the beach is a very soothing experience.
12: Getting a massage every other week is a wonderful luxury I’m glad I can afford.
13: Parenting is hard work.
14: Taking naps is awesome.
15: Good neighbors are priceless.
16: Blood ties are overrated. I keep only relationships that enhance my life and well being.
17: Exercising is the most effective anxiety remedy for me.
18: I could eat a mango everyday for the rest of my life.
19: Learning to speak another language is worth it.( I speak 6 right now and English is the 4th I became fluent in.) I hope to keep on learning more.
20: A dolphin’s skin is soft as velvet.
21: Sitting in the Egyptian desert under a star lit sky with a view of the great Pyramids counts as one of my most precious memories.
22: I will probably never quit sucking my thumb.
23: Thai Iced Tea is delicious.
24: Having money is a good thing.
25: American customer service is awesome!
26: Libraries are very special places.
27: Ice skating on a frozen lake is exhilarating.
28: Being able to sleep through the night is not to be taken for granted.
29: I’ll never stop missing my dad.
30: Technology is a great thing when it works.
31: Being a woman is a privilege.
32: Stand up for what is right no matter how uncomfortable it feels.
33: Just because you’re the only one doesn’t mean you’re wrong.
34: It’s possible to change.
35: Being pregnant and giving birth are two life changing experiences that are unique to each individual woman.
36: Watching movies is one of my favorite pass times.
37: Friends make life sweeter.
38: Babies are hard work.
39: Perfection is overrated.
40: Being yourself is all you can be.
41: People appreciate candor and honesty.
42: We all just want to feel loved.
I am grateful for another year full of potential and experiences.
When Life’s good and easy, I will savor it.
When the challenges come, I will deal with them.
Aging is simply a process of transformation both physical and spiritual. Time won’t stop for me, nor would I want it to. Slowly but surely, it chips away at my ego. As my skin softens, so does my heart. As the mirror reflects images of an ever changing body, I’m better able to witness the constancy of the soul within.
I no longer resent the passing of time for I recognize it as the only tool capable of effecting a real metamorphosis. Time shapes and refines me.
I have made peace with my past. I am content with my present. I feel great hope for the future.
Time is my ally, not my enemy.
Happy Birthday to me!