celebrating "delicious ambiguity" for my birthday

celebrating "delicious ambiguity" for my birthday

It's my birthday today - I had to pause to think how old I actually am - I'm sticking with "early 50's" for now because I still scrape in! Birthdays are a time of life where you stop and take stock of where you've been and where you're going.......and that's something that I'm still trying to work out. I know where I've come from but I'm still figuring out where I'm ultimately headed.

The last few years have been quite a steep learning curve for me. I hadn't realized how entrenched I was in living my life as a stereotypical wife and mother. It wasn't until a few implosions came my way that I stopped to think about who I am and what I wanted out of life. I had absolutely no idea what interested me or what motivated me. I was just plodding along and living day to day with no sense of satisfaction or even any real joy.

#midlife blog crestingthehill.com.au

Things are different now, I still haven't figured out where I'm going, but I do know that I'm going - hopefully in the right direction and with a lot more zip and sass than I had in my 40's. I love the "delicious ambiguity" of my life (which would have scared me in years gone by) and the fact that I have lots of choices. I love that I'm married because I choose to be married, I love that I am a mother who has grown and flown her kids and I can choose to let them be free to find their way in life. I love that my friends are people I choose to be with, who are supportive and fun and not just people I have kept in my life because it was easier than letting go.

My birthday marks another year of living this second half of my life. I have no intention of doing anything profound to mark the occasion - I think I'll kick back, wear comfy clothes, eat junk food and wait for my fb friends to send me pictures of cats with birthday hats.

#midlife blog crestingthehill.com.au

So here's to being a year older, a year wiser, a year sassier, a year of changing jobs, a year of starting a blog, a year of discovering new things. Now I'm really looking forward to what's ahead - I'm not treading water, I'm on that on that motorbike and heading off down a road that leads to new adventures, new friends, new experiences and becoming more "me"! Life is really good fun - I'm not sure if it's the age and stage or if I'm just a late bloomer and only now starting to figure out what a lot of women have known for generations. Happy birthday to me and here's to an exciting and engaging year ahead!

34 comments

  1. The happiest of birthdays to you Leanne! I love everything you said! Here is to another year sassier. I still am squeaking in for early 50's, but not for much longer. I hope you have the best cake ever!

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    1. thanks Terri - it's been a lovely day and I think life just keeps getting better (which never ceases to amaze me!)

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  2. Happy happy happy birthday. I'm so grateful I've discovered you this past year.

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    1. me too Carla! It's been lovely doing blog bonding :)

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  3. Happy birthday. Love your reflection in this article. Hope the year ahead is your best one yet.

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    1. thanks so much Ali & for all your inspiration :)

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  4. Here's to another spectacular trip around the sun to you dear Leanne (and you're a fellow Scorpio) I get to be 53 next week!!

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    1. we're still Spring chickens Karen - and I hope you have lovely things planned for your birthday :)

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  5. I don't think you're a late bloomer; I think it is our age - 50s - that causes us to embrace life and welcome change in the second half of our lives.

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    1. I think that's true too - it's just such a great time of life.....so much better than I expected!

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  6. Happy Birthday Leanne! Sounds like you're on a wonderful path to more discoveries! Have a fantastic and restful day.

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    1. thanks Laurie - it's been a really fun day and I'm looking forward to the year ahead :)

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    1. It's certainly been a year of change and all for the good Di - thanks for sharing it with me :)

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  8. Happy Birthday Leanne - from the bottom of my heart!!! I'd love to toast with you but I'm down with a terrible stomach flu, so I'm afraid, no Champagne for me:( I wish you all your dreams come true and that you continue to find happiness and embrace life as you always do:)
    xx Abby

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    1. thank you so much for your lovely wishes Abby (all the more special because you feel like crud!) I hear champagne has antibacterial properties so maybe you need to have a "medicinal" sip or two :)

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  9. First off Happy Birthday. You've come a long way in the last year! I can't wait to see what you conquer this year!

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    1. thanks Rena - and thanks for being such a lovely blog buddy and encouraging me along the way :)

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  10. Happy, happy birthday!!! I absolutely LOVE this line: "I still haven't figured out where I'm going, but I do know that I'm going"!!! Yes, yes, and yes again! :) Enjoy your day!!

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    1. Thanks Wendy - it's good to know that we don't have to have it all figured out, we can just enjoy finding our way and enjoying the sunshine while we're at it.

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  11. Happy Birthday to you! And thank you for introducing me to that quote - "delicious ambiguity" is so wonderful and evocative.

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    1. it's a lovely term isn't it Laurel - I think it's become one of my favourites and I'm glad you like it too.

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  12. Happy Birthday - I'm a day late, as per usual! Hope you had a great day. Isn't it wonderful that we have so many more choices now?

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    1. thanks Lana - I don't mind you being a day late :)

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  13. Happy Birthday Leanne! I am catching up on your blog posts today, and loving all that I have missed. I'm glad you began a blog, and that we have "met"! I hope this coming year is a wonderful one for you!

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    1. thanks so much Susan - I'm glad we met too and can enjoy what we each have to share :)

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  14. Happy Birthday Leanne. You have achieved so much in this last year and there are many more good times to come. Thanks for sharing with us at #WednesdaysWisdom.

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    1. thanks Sue and thanks for being with me through most of this blogging adventure!

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  15. A very happy birthday to you Leanne (probably a bit belated now from me). I hope your sassier self had a fabulous one and that the year ahead brings more of what's good.

    Sally @ Life Loving
    #LifeLovingLinkie

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    1. thanks so much Sally - I'm really looking forward to what the year ahead brings :)

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  16. Happy Birthday to you!!! I hope that this is a year full of life, love, happiness, good health, dreams galore and successes achieved! I'm not sure if I will ever feel like I've got it together, but I think the older I get the more willing I am to let some things go, and I'm figuring out what's really important. I'm happier this way, let's hope it continues!!!

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    1. Welcome to the club Nikki - I think as you get older and wiser (?) you learn that everything isn't going to work out quite like you planned, but maybe that's not a bad thing and there is a heck of a lot of good stuff happening in amongst it to balance things out :)

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  17. Happy Belated Birthday Leanne. I can't believe I missed this post of y ours. Wishing you another 50 with all the sass and spunk that you have now and may your wisdom increase as the years go by!!

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    1. thank you so much Mary - belated wishes are just as nice as the ones on the day :)

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