ANOTHER YEAR OLDER AND MORE TO BE THANKFUL FOR
I can't believe that another year has glided by, it feels like I'm in a
stream that keeps flowing and taking me along with it. Every year brings
with it some new lessons, some thoughts, and some changes in perspective. I
truly believe that the first third of life is about discovering yourself,
the second third is about establishing yourself and your family, and the
third third is about introspection, gratitude, creativity, and investing into
others.
So, as I sit here with my morning coffee and think back over the last year,
I thought I'd share a few things I'm grateful for.....
1. FAMILY
So many women mourn their
empty nest. I find that it's a stage of life that, once I adjusted to it, has brought
me a lot of joy and a lot of satisfaction. I love that somehow at twenty I
met, and a year later married, a man who has been my best friend and my
strongest supporter. 42+ years later we're still there for each other -
different, but basically the same. Superficially we're chalk and cheese, but
when you dig deeper, our foundations are based on the same values and
beliefs - we're in this life together, and I'm so grateful that he's happy
to share it with me.
The other blessing of the empty nest is seeing our adult children thrive in
careers, marriages, homes, and lives that they're building independently and
successfully. I love that what we built into them gave them a great start,
and then they took off and did the rest themselves - not a single apron
string in sight! And the icing on the cake has been the gift of our two
grandgirls - I could easily have loved a dozen grandchildren, but I'm happy
to settle for the two delights we've been given. Grandparenting is one of the best rewards for all that hard work we put into parenting.
2. FINANCIAL SECURITY
The first couple of decades of marriage were a bit of an uphill climb
financially - neither of us were big income earners, and we were also
focused on being there for our children as much as possible. Despite that,
we pushed on and worked towards being debt free. I must confess that I never
believed we'd reach the point where we'd paid off our mortgage and had some
investments and retirement funds on top of that. It seemed like a pipedream
back in those years of living frugally.
Fast forward to our 60's and we've both
retired early, we have more than enough to keep ourselves comfortably, and we have no
debts at all. When we paid off our mortgage a decade or so ago, it was the
beginning of the light at the end of the tunnel shining more brightly. When
I was 35 it all seemed impossible and I wondered if we'd be spending our
retirement living under a bridge eating catfood. How wrong I was - and it
really does prove that you can achieve
financial security
if you steadily work towards it with care and intentionality. Regardless, I
still pinch myself now and then because it really does feel like we're
living the dream
3. FREEDOM TO BE ME
At long last, I'm finally freeing myself from being focused on the opinions of others. I'm allowing myself the space to dabble in the pastimes I enjoy without needing to validate the outcome. I'm investing my time in the people and places that are good for my heart, and freeing myself from feeling guilty when I distance myself from what brings drama or stress.
The years leading up to sixty were about keeping a lot of balls in the air,
about fitting in around everyone else's needs, working, volunteering,
fitting the mold, saying and doing what was expected. I was a very compliant
person when it came to saying or doing what was needed or what I thought was
"right". Post-sixty feels
lighter and freer
- I'm kinder and less judgemental - to myself and to others. I like this
softer, gentler version of me, as I carry less baggage I'm able to look up
and around, and to simply enjoy this beautiful life I've been blessed
with.......and isn't that a wonderful birthday present?
"BLESSINGS ALL MINE WITH TEN THOUSAND BESIDE"
I am so very grateful to be here today - turning 63 and feeling so calm,
peaceful, and settled. So many in the world are struggling through
situations within or outside of their control, and I feel for them deeply.
It makes me even more aware of how fortunate I am to live where I do, to
have people in my life who love me, to be in really good health (my titanium hip
is awesome!), and to be able to live life on my own terms every single
day.
I think some of life is a crapshoot, but a lot of it comes down to living a
life that reflects your values and living within your means. Building into
others, being true to yourself, living life well - that's what I've been
thinking about today and what makes me truly grateful....
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Any thoughts on what makes for a happy birthday? Are you living your decade
happily and gratefully, or is it hard work? I truly hope you find some joy
and sunshine in your day and a blessing or two along the way.
RELATED POSTS
BEFORE YOU GO:
If you'd like to know when I write a new post, please click HERE for email updates.
If you'd like to comment but not here on the blog, feel free to email
me at
leanne.crestingthehill@gmail.com - I'd love to hear from you.
And please share this post by clicking on a share button before you
go.
Happy Birthday Leanne, and I wish you every happiness over the coming years. You have found a wonderful sweetspot in your life now and that is so good to know. Congratulations on all you’ve done and become to turn 63. Warmest wishes, Denyse x
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Denyse - I really do feel like my 60's is a sweetspot - old enough to not be so buffeted by life, and young enough to not feel the aches and pains too often! Life is a lot about how we choose to view it - and I'm certainly enjoying the view. :) x
DeleteHappy Birthday 🎉
ReplyDeleteThank you so much x
DeleteHappy Birthday, Leanne!! That is a wonderful gratittude list. Mine is similar. I am also very grateful for our friendship! <3
ReplyDeleteHi Donna - I'm so grateful for the friends I have IRL and for those, like yourself, online. I feel like my friendship pool is smaller, but deeper - and that's a lovely part of this second half of life. x
DeleteHappy Birthday Leanne🎉 best wishes on your special day. This is a lovely list. Thank you for your words and inspiration each week, they are gratefully received. 💖
ReplyDeleteHi Gaye - thank you so much for your kind words and wishes. I'm so glad you're enjoying what I write and I really appreciate you taking the time to comment and wish me well. xx
DeleteHappy Birthday, Leanne. I'm so happy that your are in such a good place, in your life. You deserve every happiness that life has to offer. Thank you for sharing your special gift, of inspiring us with your words, in such a unique and interesting way, each week, on your blog. I always look forward to your posts. ♥️
ReplyDeleteHi Christina - your friendship is one of the lovely benefits that blogging has brought with it. I love the connections I have with friends nearby, in other places in Australia, and then those of you further afield overseas - it makes for such a deeper life experience and connection - one that I'm really grateful for. xx
DeleteWishing you the happiest of birthdays. I love that you're in such a great space.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo - I never would have believed back in my 30's and 40's that life would be so cruisy and pleasant in my 60's. I'm beyond grateful for it every single day .
DeleteHappy birthday!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo - another year bites the dust - and a new one begins!
DeleteHappy Birthday, Leanne!!! All the best to you! Thank you for your insight and encouragement over the years. Your inspiring blog is my weekly gift. I can't say that I am where you are in my sixties due to the death of my spouse which brought about many changes and struggles. Growing old alone is not for sissies. Different ballgame. Take care! Would love to see some pictures of your Birthday!
ReplyDeleteHi Yvonne - I really do feel for you and for what life has dealt you. Even my much less complicated life has its times of trials and trouble - as you said, getting older ain't for sissies......but there are some really good times in amongst it all, and I'm just so grateful that I get to live this season of life happily and healthily - and hopefully I can encourage others like yourself to find a bright spot here and there along the way. Thanks so much for sharing the journey with me and for your encouragement - you really are a joy to me. xx
DeleteI wish a very happy birthday to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much :) and thanks for being here and reading my thoughts and chatter! :)
DeleteHappy Birthday Leanne. This wonderful peace you have within yourself spills over. Your gratitude and joy is contagious.
ReplyDeleteHi Suzanne - thank you for those kind words. I really do feel very blessed and peaceful these days. I think you need to experience a few upheavals, get past them, and then they make you realize how lovely a calm, quiet, contented life is. I know my world is fairly small these days, but I'm fine with that - the less drama and noise, the happier I am. :D
DeleteHappy Birthday Leanne! I'll be joining the 60 club in January. I only retired recently and I love it. I am looking forward to my 60s and the freedom that retirement brings!
ReplyDeleteHi! Retirement feels like the gift that keeps on giving, and to get there by 60 is such an achievement to be proud of. I can't believe that I get to enjoy every single day on my own terms and my own timetable - you're going to love your 60's and I hope you'll keep sharing the journey with me. :)
DeleteA very happy birthday to you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Pat - and I appreciate you popping in when you have so much on your plate atm. Being able to cheer others on in the midst of your upheaval is such a sign of your generosity and kindness. x
DeleteHappy birthday Leanne, welcome to the 63 club. A lovely recap of where you've been, where's you are now and what's to come. Feeling content is a fabulous way to be at 63. Enjoy x
ReplyDeleteHi Deb - and welcome back home! I'm hoping that 63 will continue to confirm that my 60's are a decade that proved to be so much better than I ever expected. I'm very grateful for where life has brought me :)
DeleteHappy belated birthday Leanne! You stated so beautifully the things you are grateful for at this point in your life. We've said before how our lives seem to be on a similar track and I couldn't agree more with the blessings you've outlined here.
ReplyDeleteHi Christie - isn't it lovely to be able to look at our lives and to see so much to be grateful for and feel contentment and joy. Life really is pretty darn special <3
DeleteHappy Blessed Birthday a week late.
ReplyDeleteHi Patrick - thanks so much, and better late than never :)
Delete