In just a few short days, I will celebrate another birthday, another milestone.  As the day draws nearer, I cannot help but reflect and contemplate on my life. This journey has been incredible! Filled with some amazing moments of joy, heartbreak, accomplishments, and invaluable lessons learned. They say 30s is the new 20s, or was that just a phrase thirty-year olds coined to feel better about themselves? Either way, I will celebrate!

It is funny to think when I was younger I dreamed about being older; being more independent. In fact, I hear it often from younger ones: “I can’t wait to be a teenager,” “I can’t wait to be older,” “I can’t wait to be married,” “I can’t wait to own my car or house.” You get the picture. But, life is a cycle – the older we get the younger we wish we were. We clench to hold on to our youth and some of us live in constant denial that we are no longer as young as we used to be.  But we are as young as we feel, and as young as we act. In fact, we are as young as we want to be!

I am truly thankful to celebrate another anniversary of my birth! With each year, I believe I learn a bit more about myself. I have been truly blessed to have accomplished a lot of what I set out to do, but there is still much more work to do. So many more ways to improve; so many more goals to accomplish. This is only the beginning.

As I get ready to embark on a new chapter of my life, my heart is filled with joy! One day very soon I will be someone’s parent. Wow! Someone will call me “MOM!” As you can imagine, I am filled with joy, excitement, and anticipation. But there are also feelings of anxiety and fear; fear of the unknown. Though I have heard these feelings are quite normal at this stage, it is still somewhat frightening. Motherhood is quickly approaching. But, I am learning to take it in strides. In many ways, I believe I have enough role models to guide me. I am blessed to be surrounded by people I consider great parents! My mother is at the top of that list! I will take the lessons I have learned and build! One day at a time.

As if on cue, as I was driving home this evening Rod Stewart’s Forever Young came on my radio. One of my all time favorite songs! I will leave you with the first verse:

May the good Lord be with you

Down every road you roam

And may sunshine and happiness

Surround you when you’re far from home

And may you grow to be proud

Dignified and true

And do unto others

As you’d have done to you

Be courageous and be brave

And in my heart you’ll always stay

Forever Young, Forever Young

Forever Young, Forever Young

Until Next Time,
Christine