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.
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.
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!
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!
ReplyDeletethanks Terri - it's been a lovely day and I think life just keeps getting better (which never ceases to amaze me!)
DeleteHappy happy happy birthday. I'm so grateful I've discovered you this past year.
ReplyDeleteme too Carla! It's been lovely doing blog bonding :)
DeleteHappy birthday. Love your reflection in this article. Hope the year ahead is your best one yet.
ReplyDeletethanks so much Ali & for all your inspiration :)
DeleteHere'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!!
ReplyDeletewe're still Spring chickens Karen - and I hope you have lovely things planned for your birthday :)
DeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI think that's true too - it's just such a great time of life.....so much better than I expected!
DeleteHappy Birthday Leanne! Sounds like you're on a wonderful path to more discoveries! Have a fantastic and restful day.
ReplyDeletethanks Laurie - it's been a really fun day and I'm looking forward to the year ahead :)
DeleteWhat a year! And here's to many more!
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly been a year of change and all for the good Di - thanks for sharing it with me :)
DeleteHappy 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:)
ReplyDeletexx Abby
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 :)
DeleteFirst off Happy Birthday. You've come a long way in the last year! I can't wait to see what you conquer this year!
ReplyDeletethanks Rena - and thanks for being such a lovely blog buddy and encouraging me along the way :)
DeleteHappy, 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!!
ReplyDeleteThanks 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.
DeleteHappy Birthday to you! And thank you for introducing me to that quote - "delicious ambiguity" is so wonderful and evocative.
ReplyDeleteit'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.
DeleteHappy 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?
ReplyDeletethanks Lana - I don't mind you being a day late :)
DeleteHappy 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!
ReplyDeletethanks so much Susan - I'm glad we met too and can enjoy what we each have to share :)
DeleteHappy 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.
ReplyDeletethanks Sue and thanks for being with me through most of this blogging adventure!
DeleteA 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.
ReplyDeleteSally @ Life Loving
#LifeLovingLinkie
thanks so much Sally - I'm really looking forward to what the year ahead brings :)
DeleteHappy 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!!!
ReplyDeleteWelcome 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 :)
DeleteHappy 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!!
ReplyDeletethank you so much Mary - belated wishes are just as nice as the ones on the day :)
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