How It Feels Getting Another Year Older

My birthday is days away and I'm thinking about my past 55 years and my future maybe 35 years and I know one thing, I have lived.  I have over 40,000 photos in my phone to prove it.  Do you think I'm slowing down?  Not anytime soon.  I prefer to live while I'm mentally sound and physically able and one day, when my body and mind tell me to slow down a little, I'll think about it, but I can't guarantee I will.  Every year of age I add I figure a little more out about who I am and who I want to be.  I'm happy to be turning 56.  Birthdays are far less significant at this age, but that's ok.  I have no desire to celebrate in the full throttle way I once did because I have to live with the consequences the next day and that's no fun.  I love my relationships with my husband, adult children and my friends.  They are absolutely fabulous.  I care less every year about what people think of me which gives me so much freedom.  Every year I refine my personal style figuring out what I want to wear and read and my favorite classes at the gym.  Clarity like this blocks out so much of the noise.  I can't and don't want to do it all, see it all, be it all.  Nope, I'm good. 

This year my celebration is two-fold, tattoos with my daughters and my favorite espresso martini at AZ88.  I asked for a pair of Nike slides, they are my favorite slip on after a workout shoe. The second part of my celebration is a trip to NYC.  I love exploring this buzzing city full of dreamers and doers.  Every trip is a new adventure and my husband and I have big plans, like always, including reservations at some of our faves, Thai Villa and Malaparte.  And on the days he has to go into the office?  Those days I put on my walking shoes and get my steps in walking along the Hudson River from Pier 57 to Pier 45 and beyond, the whole west side.  I love the breeze and there's so much to see, the Statue of Liberty being one of my faves.  

As the grays continue to come in faster and more furious, I sometimes judge myself harshly and speak to myself not so kindly.  A travel lifestyle makes it difficult to maintain the physique I wish I had.  But I am truly living and that is more important to me.  The memories, photos and filled travel journals are worth more to me than fitting into a size 10.  So, every year I think of two things around my birthday.  One is my favorite line from one of my favorite bands, Hitchin A Ride by Greenday - "There's a drought at the fountain of youth and I'm dehydrated."  And the line Anthony Hopkins says at his birthday celebration in Meet Joe Black, as he's about ready to walk away with "death" who is represented by Brad Pitt in the movie (this is my favorite movie by the way) and he's asked to give a speech, it brings me to tears every time I see it, "I'm going to break precedent and tell you my one-candle wish:  That you would have a life as lucky as mine, where you can wake up in the morning and say I don't want anything more…Sixty five years (in my case 56) don't they go by in a blink?"  

Celebrate my birthday doing my favorite thing - SHOPPING - April 17 - 20 with the code MYGIFT2U for 25% off.  If you haven't shopped Clothes Minded recently, you haven't lived and it's important to me that you enjoy life well dressed.  

I am grateful to you, customers, friends, family and when you celebrate me, I celebrate you!  My gratitude journal is always full.