Finally 40

 

Forty came and went uneventfully. No mid-life crisis, no big hoopla, unless you count the career change at 39 1/2 was the midlife crisis. I remember 25, 30, and 35. 25 I focused on creating a family and growing that family. 30 I made a promise to do things that scared me. At 35 I decided I wanted to travel and set my goal for 50 states in 50 years....or maybe that was between 30 and 35? I can't remember because I was stuck in my adventure stage. I still am, but it is admittedly less so than five years ago. 

Forty. Gosh, I really had no idea where I thought I'd be and very few expectations of where I wanted to be. I learned early that you make all the plans in the world, but know they are always tentative because life loves curveballs. Although, curveballs tend to bring me the best things, so I don't mind them much. Even when they're not so fun.

I'm going into forty with few expectations. In this next decade, I want to live completely in the present. Live in the moment, don't look back and don't look too far forward. I'm focusing on building a life outside of my children and family, spending more time with friends and doing things for me. I want to continue to do things that fill my cup, that bring me happiness. I don't have time for the other stuff. I want to slow it down, enjoy the day to day and being able to be around for it all. 

Let go and live in the world around me, as few plans as I can get away with (which is hilarious right now, since we live out of our calendar and have plans six months out). I don't know where this new career chapter takes me or where I want to go with it. I only know I'm enjoying it and the opportunities I find. 

Edited August 31, 2024: I read through this before finally hitting that publish button and I laughed the entire way through. I'm succeeding in the 'living in the moment' bit, but nothing else. Apparently my midlife crisis was applying for all the things, joining a high school theatre board, going back to school (in a way) and put in an application for WDM Leadership Academy (and getting accepted), and throwing in a last minute application to be a part of the program committee for Association of Children's Museum Interactivity annual conference because that means I get to spend plenty of time in New Mexico. I made all the plans, booked myself solid for the next nine months, and seem to get crazier the older I get. I hear of individuals "chilling out" with age, but it seems to be the opposite with me!

Spring Break 2024

 

A quick getaway to North Shore (Minnesota) was exactly what we needed. I didn't have much time to give to a vacation due to work schedules and it has been a bucket list item to hike a frozen waterfall or two, go on a sled dog race through the pine trees, and stay in a cabin buried in snow. Of course, it didn't snow much this winter nor did it get cold enough to fully freeze everything. Instead, we got to enjoy a very uncrowded North Shore in 50 and 60 degree weather. I actually love visiting in the off seasons (not Memorial Day to Labor Day) because we avoid the crowds and have full hiking trails, restaurants, and shops all to ourselves. It's a unique experience.

On this trip, we did plenty of hiking and since we had Hubs with us this time, we made sure to revisit our favorites so he could enjoy them too. One of our new favorite places along North Shore is Split Lighthouse State Park. There's excellent rock scrambling and climbing with gorgeous views of the lighthouse.