My Real Life

January 3, 2012

As I Turn Forty

Filed under: Uncategorized — Amy @ 6:00 am
Tags: , ,

Today I turn 40.

Today I turn 40 and life is good.

Today I turn 40 and I am holding a baby in my arms and I am dancing in the kitchen and I feel as though I am 22 and just starting out in the world.

Today I turn 40 and I look back on the mistakes I’ve made and realize how much I learned from them.  I mourn for the roads I did not travel, yet I rejoice where the roads I did take have led.

Today I turn 40 and I find myself surrounded by good people.  Friends I have known since childhood, whom I love as my sisters; friends I have made along the way who take me for who and what I am and like me anyway; family who is near and willing to help anytime for any reason; a husband I have known since I was 16, loved since I was 22, and is truly my best friend; and children who make my heart ache because I am so in love with them.

Today I turn 40 and I like me.  I am comfortable with who I am and no longer feel the need to fit anyone else’s mold.  What you see is what you get, and I think what you are getting is pretty damn good.

Today I turn 40 and I want to share with you something that I found online a few weeks ago.  It’s not my autobiography, but it certainly could be.  And as I turn 40, I’m excited to walk down this other street and see what adventures lay ahead.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN FIVE SHORT CHAPTERS
by Portia Nelson

I
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in.
I am lost … I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes me forever to find a way out.

II
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in the same place
but, it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

III
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in … it’s a habit.
my eyes are open
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

IV
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

V
I walk down another street.

 

2 Comments »

  1. Happy birthday! I agree that life is so good and gets better every year!

    Comment by Sarah — January 3, 2012 @ 12:37 pm | Reply

  2. Congratulations, lovely post. Found you at Beauty that Moves. I’m heading toward 45, going grey, loving my independent kids (15 & 11), happy to be me but still trying to learn more and make the world a better place.

    Comment by Andrea — January 3, 2012 @ 5:44 pm | Reply


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