Turning 40

A friend turns 40 today. How did that happen? How is it that I have friends that are 40? Not too long ago 30 was soooo old. 40 was never going to happen to us, it was something that happened to older people. But not us, not me and my friends. We were going to be able to somehow live this magical life that allowed us to get married, have children and move forward without aging.

Yet, here we are within spitting distance of 40. Maybe 40 isn't too bad. Maybe our impression of 40 is very different than the reality. I always thought getting older meant giving up. I'd have to give up on my running and my career and just let go of learning and growing as a person. I'd be who I was and live for other people - my kids and my husband and my parents. But I'm not. I have those people in my life but I still live for myself. I still have growing and learning to do. I still have a career that I love most days. And, I have kids who teach me something new everyday. They are the biggest challenge I have ever faced and a challenge that will never end. But it is a challenge that is keeping me young, even as I grow older.

We only grow old when we give up on ourselves. But if we continue to learn about who we are and what we love we can be better for all of the people around us. So I'll continue working and running primarily for myself and in the process hopefully I'll stay young enough to help nurture my children to their 40th birthdays.