The Big 4-Oh!

I turned 40 last week and it didn’t even kill me. In fact, it was a lovely day and I felt excitement and satisfaction that I’ve made it this far in life without completely going under (maybe close, but not completely under).

There is something about turning 40 that makes one a bit reflective, knowing that your life is possibly half over is a bit sobering and fascinating at the same time. In that spirit, I decided to write down 40 random thoughts, items, ideas, reflections, facts that are “me” right now, in 2014, for what ever they’re worth.

40 things

1- I’m actually looking forward to my 40’s. I miss the energy, exuberance, and enthusiasm of my younger years, but I wouldn’t go back for all the tea in China. I believe that my best years are ahead of me.

2- My grandpa Vere is famous for saying, “Family is Everything.” No truer words have been spoken. Family is what counts.

3- I like many activities, but reading is still my favorite. On stressful days I find myself dreaming about lying in my comfy bed with a good book. Nothing is more relaxing to me.

4- I’m still a very social person and I prefer being around people, but I’m finding that I enjoy being alone more than I ever thought I would. I’m learning to savor peace and quiet.

5- A lifetime commitment to God and to a religious life is an ever-changing and evolving process and takes more commitment and fortitude than I would have thought when I was younger . “Line upon line, precept upon precept” is a true principle.

6- The value of a peaceful marriage and having a life partner you actually like can NOT be underestimated. I’m truly lucky with this one and I don’t take it for granted.

7- Taking reasonable care of your body is important, especially as you age. I haven’t been the best at this, but I won’t give up trying. I want to enjoy a decent level of health and activity in my older years. God willing.

8- I find it incredibly stressful and challenging to raise kids in such a fast paced, technology heavy, media centric world. I honestly fear for future generations and I’m kinda grateful I won’t be around to see how things are 75 years from now.

9- I believe every family should have a dog because they bring so much love into the home.

10- Life is completely unpredictable and there really isn’t much that is truly within our control. The trick is to roll with the punches and find value in all kinds of life’s experiences, the good AND the bad. Now I just need to figure out how to do this with any kind of consistency. Not an easy task.

11- My mantra for making choices…”Is this really going to matter when I’m dead?” If the answer is no, I try to spend less time on that choice.

12- I like myself the least when I’m being prideful or impatient. Why, oh why, are these characteristic of mine so hard to overcome?

13- I love my brother’s dearly, but I’m always jealous of people who have a sister(s). Thank goodness for my sister-in-laws!

14- I didn’t appreciate or enjoy school enough while I was in the thick of it. It felt like such a chore then. I would love to go back and further my education. This time I would relish every minute of it.

15- Being a mother makes me feel my absolute best and my absolute worst. Nothing brings out the positive and negative in me like being a mother.

16- My favorite treat (these days) is a Red Mango frozen yogurt with fresh fruit and mini chocolate chips on top. Delicious! I could eat it every day.

17- I have so many dreams about places I would love to vacation to, but when it comes down to actually taking those vacations I often feel like it’s not worth the stress, money and work to actually go. When I make myself push through those concerns, I’m always happy I went. I have a strange love/hate relationship with travel.

18- The longer I live, the more grateful I become for the gift of two parents who had their feet firmly planted on the ground and their heads screwed on straight. What a blessing to have a solid start in life and to have their continuous support as an adult.

19- I’ve given up the hope that I will ever be truly relaxed when my house is a mess. I love having my environment clean and orderly even though I know that’s only possible to a certain extent when living with children. I’ve worked hard on my tolerance for mess, and I think I’m making progress.

20- I love to swim, but you couldn’t pay me to get in a public swimming pool. I’m surprised that I’m okay with my kids swimming in them. Yuck!

21- If I had no children and plenty of money, I think it would be incredible to live in NYC. I love the energy of the city and the feeling of possibility inherent in it. I would miss the mountains and fresh air though.

22- Cooking for picky kids is the worst task and takes all the wind out of my cooking sails. I see so much value in family meals, but man, I have to push myself so hard to find the motivation to make them happen. Sadly, more often than not, they don’t happen.

23- I hate my huge feet, but love my huge hands.

24- I love to play card games and board games, but my husband does not. This is a problem in my life.

25- I love looking at and being in beautiful yards and gardens, but I really hate yard work. I keep hoping that someday I will like it and I will have a lovely yard to enjoy (or possibly high a gardener).

26- Give me a well-made documentary (especially about history) and a bowl of popcorn, and you’ll have a happy girl.

27- In college I majored in Elementary Education and loved it, but if I was to go back to school now I would choose to study something totally different. Maybe psychology or history?

28- I still love the smell of laundry detergent and fabric softener. I like doing laundry just because it smells so fantastic.

29- Just when I think I have something figured out, life happens and shows me that I really know nothing at all. I think this is how it will be until I die.

30- I do not enjoy extreme heat or extreme cold. If life was a perpetual spring or fall, I wound not complain.

31- I used to have lots of fears. I like to think that I’m overcoming those fears one at a time. Maybe by the end of my life I won’t have many left to overcome.

32- I can’t dance a lick, but it’s a talent I really admire in other. That, and tennis.

33- One talent I think I have is really appreciating the good qualities in everyone. I believe that everyone I meet has something valuable to add to life and I feel grateful to have crossed paths with them. I truly love people.

34- The people I admire most are those that are secure with who they are and have nothing to prove. People like that have so much more to give to others. I want to be more like that.

35- I’m an incredibly uncoordinated person. Athletics is a complete mystery to me in every way. I stick to things I can do with my hands. My small motor skills are much better.

36- I’m a person who is very motivated by a sense of duty and by the desire to keep the established rules of any institution. I’m much more of a conformist and not one to feel the need to buck the system. As I get older though, I understand better people who are not like this and I can see the value they bring. I believe that variety in people is what keeps life interesting.

37- I love my kids so much it makes my heart actually hurt. Their happiness is my happiness, their pain is my pain. I know this isn’t the healthiest way to function as a parent, but I can’t help it.

38- I dream of living in a beautiful home, of the decorator magazine variety. In the vast scheme of things I know that this has no eternal value whatsoever, but I still think it would be awesome.

39- I’m fascinated by the science of the mind. If we could get a grip on what’s happening in our brains, I think we could solve most of the world’s problems.

40- Life is incredibly challenging at times, but I believe that at its heart, it is good!