A couple of weeks ago I turned 40. There is a long running joke in my family that I was born at the age of 40 because of my serious and pragmatic nature as a child and for the most part I would agree. So to be actually turning 40, I feel like I have kind of caught up with myself finally. I feel weirdly grounded.

Breakfast in bed with the computer for surfing! Bliss!

Birthday breakfast in bed, surfing! Bliss!

There is a lot to be said about aging in our culture. Many of us spend a lot of energy trying to fight the clock and stressing about getting older.  Some of us worry about beauty fading as we age, synapses firing less and generally losing what we “had” when we were younger.  It’s pretty understandable, as we live in an age of that glorifies and commodifies youth.

And a fancy decaf latte courtesy of Mike.

A fancy b-day decaf latte courtesy of Mike.

But I think it’s high time to celebrate getting older. Everyone’s doing it, you can’t stop it, so you might as well embrace it, breathe it in and enjoy the wisdom that comes with it. I may be one of the few people I know who lie about their age- the wrong way.  Half way through 39 I was telling people I was 40.

The rest of the day transplanting ferns and working in the garden- my happy place.

The rest of the day was spent transplanting ferns and working in the garden.

Birthdays are a great opportunity to re-evaluate. I ask the same questions every year. Am I happy? Fulfilled in my career? In a loving place with my friends and family?  Am I angry? Am I hanging on to old baggage that no longer serves me? Am I stuck in old patterns? Am I living life fully? What things do I want to do in the next year? What can go, what can stay? What needs to shift? It’s a good time to be honest with myself and move from there.  After that, it’s time to celebrate. Acknowledge the day quietly or with a big bang.

Queen and Spadina at 40.

Dinner! Queen and Spadina at 40.

The past 40 years have brought me to this place in life. The road has not always been smooth and things rarely turn out the way I think they will – but it is mine and I forged it.  I hope the next 40 are as full of adventure as the last 40.

50 here I come!

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