Being born in 1983 means that this year I will join the 40th club. While to me it’s just a number, I still can’t believe I am already 40. As we get older, we reflect on things we have experienced to us over the years, both the good and bad. I got my bachelor’s and master’s degree. Was married and divorced. Became a god parent to my best friend. Saw my sister get married, lost my grandparents, filed bankruptcy, became a dad and had two amazing girls. I also recently have dealt with an undiagnosed mental health condition that affected my family. Since then, I have learned from those experiences and became stronger so that I can improve on myself. Many times, I have wondered if certain actions or approaches were done differently, how might my life be now? Obviously, it would be alternated but by how much? It’s just a thought as today is the reality I live in now.
I remember when I was younger, my mom had her 40th birthday. I recall seeing all the decorations they had gotten setup that showcased the number 40. Back then, turning 40 was emphasized as being “over the hill” and represented you as “old”. I thought jeez, being 40 is the turning point of one’s life because then it’s your 50th, 60th and so forth. Today, turning 40 no longer has the stigma of being “over the hill or old”. Most celebrate this milestone year with a big party, a trip, or something signifying that while I am 40, I am still young at heart to which I am not old, not yet anyways.
So here comes the title card of “The Road to 40”. Being that April is just around the corner and my birthday is in August, it leaves me 145 days to get this done. I thought about things I have yet to do but wanted to before I turn the “big 4-0”. I have come up with 5 things I will do before I hit 40, not need or want, but do! I have already begun some planning and budgeting to see how much the following will cost. The one thing though that I cannot decide yet is how I want to celebrate this year. Once decided, I will update this post. For now, these are the 5 Road to 40 experiences I will do.
- Fly to St. Louis for a home Cardinals game
- Drive a real race car
- Visit Nashville Tennessee
- Participate in a Rage Room
- Write a children’s book (while it may not be finished in time, I at least want to be in the middle of it)
I think after the last 17 months, I want to go into year 40 with a positive outlook that the next 40 years (while frightening will make me 80) are going to be some of the best that has yet to come.
