A New Decade

I'm writing this post as a 39-year old.

When Monday's post goes up, I will be a woman in her 40s.

I'm not particularly bothered by the idea of turning 40 but I am rather shocked at the idea. How is it possible that I've been on this planet for four decades when it feels like yesterday that I was reading Anne of Green Gables, watching Thundercats and playing with Legos??

I still remember when my father turned 40. Vividly. I was almost five years old at the time and now I am as old as my father was then. And since that is his first birthday that I actually remember, I am as old now as the youngest version of my father that I remember.

He is 75 now and, if I am even close to being as active, fit, well-read and hilarious when I'm 75, I'll be doing just fine thank you very much.

It's important on the dawn of a new adventure to take a moment to look back.

Ten years ago I was standing on the precipice of 30.

I had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes a mere 22 months before and was still struggling with the day to day of it all. I carried juice boxes in my purse, was on multiple daily injections, had a glucometer that took 30 seconds to count down and flat out refused to even consider an insulin pump.

I had no idea what a blog was and, if asked, I probably would have said that bloggers are ridiculous. Who would read them anyway?!?

I had yet to discover running and could not have even guessed at how long a half marathon actually was.

I did not own a road bike and had no idea there were pedals that people clipped their shoes to.

I was 7 1/2 years away from my first attempt at swimming for fitness.

I was not an athlete by any stretch of the imagination.

I was a vegetarian and had been for almost 18 years.

I had short cropped hair.

I did not own any makeup other that perhaps a lip balm of some kind.

I drove a rusty old Nissan Sentra.

I lived alone in a small apartment.

I had yet to meet either of my brothers in law. 

I had no idea how wonderful it would feel to be an aunt.

I would never have imagined the life I have now. The life I love with a man I adore. A life full of adventure, of activity, of challenges, of family and of friends.

I love my life. I love the people in my life. I know very well how lucky I am and I try to take the time to appreciate what I have.

As I stand on the edge of the precipice, forty is looking pretty wonderful so far.

See you all on the other side.