Reflections Of The Last 35 Years

This past week I celebrated my 35th birthday, and the following post is a reflection on those years. The high and lows of a 35-year-old work-at-home-mom/wife/business-owner/blogger/whatever else defines me currently.

See birthdays are very special to me, I go all out when celebrating my kids and loved ones special day. I feel like it’s a day to celebrate the amazing life and it’s achievements and to reflect on the lessons learned. When it comes to my own, I do a lot of reflecting as if the day is measured somehow by my accomplishments alone… how far I’ve come and how my life has changed for the better.

As I reflect though, on this most recent milestone, I finally came to a realization that I need to start measuring my years for far more than accomplishments and also look at my failures and flaws to truly appreciate who I have become.

So you’re probably thinking why even reflect on life right? I mean 35 isn’t really a big deal when you consider the grand scheme of things and the years ahead but I was told once by a very wise friend that I should count and ‘live’ each day as if it was my last. So today, as I sit here typing away I am well aware of the fact that my life hasn’t turned out the way I expected it to be at 35.

I won’t bore anyone with the details of what I expected to be at 35 but I will say this… the years leading up to my 35th birthday has left me with a lot to be grateful for. A life filled with disappointments, hurt, heartbreak, sickness, and distrust also had lots of fulfillment, laughter, love, compassion, and gratitude.

Looking back even in recent years, I have learned so much. I have acquired so many skills (mostly self-thought), I have discovered my limits and when what and who matters. I now value the people that I choose to have in my life and I also value my time.

My life though only 35, is really stressful, to say the least. I work hard and I sleep little… at this point in my life, I am all about my kids. My life is wrapped up around theirs because I not only contribute to their future but I am responsible for it. I am a wife, not the perfect one but I try… I am also an only child with no one else to turn to when my parents are in need. Everything else including my business, volunteer work, and friends I try to make time for.

Today I’m happy with the person I see in the mirror, I will always worry about how I look, how much I weight and how my kids see me as they look to me for advice but today I’m happy with who I am. I am happy with what I’ve become and tomorrow looks promising even though it’s not guaranteed.

Here’s to the next 35 years, and may it be as equally as gratifying as how I feel right this moment. Thank you God for every second you have given me!