This time, the milestone was mine. I turned 40 yesterday. It's a good 40. I have a lot to be thankful for and a lot to look forward to. There have been little changes in me over the last few years, most of them good. For me, the most profound one has been how mellow I have become about things that used to bother me to the point of madness. For example:
-- I no longer care if my children throw things over the side of the catwalk that connects their bedrooms to the play room, as long as said items weigh less than a pound and are not living or liquid.
-- It is not required that everyone in the house be up and dressed by 9:00 a.m., even on weekends. Clothing is highly overrated. Soft pj's rule!
-- Ian does not have to finish his homework if he doesn't want to. I won't force him to complete an assignment; but he must take responsibility for that decision and suffer the consequences of it.
-- Some days there is no time to fold all the laundry and get everything picked up before company comes. That's why some brilliant person invented deep plastic baskets and closets with doors that close.
-- My body is far from perfect, and that's o.k. Over 4 decades it has carried me through some amazing adventures. With a little chromosomal help from my husband, it created, nurtured, and housed two wonderful human beings for close to 19 months. It was transformed by motherhood in a way that no airbrush can improve upon and is beautiful based on a natural standard.
-- When my kids asked if they could have birthday cake for breakfast this morning, I happily gave them each a small piece of delicious Italian Cream Cake on a birthday paper plate. They devoured it and were thrilled at the novelty of eating it in the formal dining room. It's been a lovely day ever since.
I guess what I am saying is I have finally recognized that sweating the small stuff makes you miss the great things that go on around you. If it took turning 40 to help me get there, then I have to say it was well worth the ride. Now it's time to start cruising. Anyone else care to come along?
1 comment:
Welcome to the forties Carla! I'm 41 and probably more relaxed and more myself than ever.
I wouldn't want to go back to my self obsessed twenties or my manic,
work obsessed thirties.
I've settled nicely into this period of my life and I'm so glad you have too!
Maybe mature is the wrong word, but I really have shed my need to please everyone and meet anyone's expectations other than my own.
Thank God there is a gift involved in being a bit older and wiser.
Happy cruisin'! :)
Post a Comment