Just a few more hours till my big day...

Tomorrow, January 22, is my....

BIRTHDAY!!!

And I couldn't be more excited! I know, most women dread turning 40. Not me. Not one bit! I am actually looking forward to it. I am ready to close the door on my 30's and move in to what I feel will be one of the best years of my life!

Why? Because I am going to make it that way! This is the year that I am going to create the life I have always imagined! That is why the Word I chose for this year is change. It is a new year and it is time for a new me! And I am so pumped and ready for it!!!

So bring it on...

bring. it. on.

Because I am so intent on making some changes in my life, and because the final hours of my 30's are ticking away to a new decade of life for me, I have been thinking back over the past 39 years. I have had a good life, and I am blessed in many ways. It hasn't always been easy...hell no! There has been a lot of heartache, trials, and grief. There has also been a lot of smiles, fun, and amazing times!

I ...

* have travelled to many destinations in the US, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe...

* have read hundreds, possibly thousands, of books....

* have seen more movies, concerts, and plays than I could ever count...

* have travelled by land, air, and sea...

* have swam with dolphins...

* have seen all four of the Boston sports teams play live...

* played soccer for many years, and I was a cheerleader (gag...I know!)...

* earned a college degree...

*  have been a great student...

* still love to learn, as much as I can...

* have loved and lost, and loved again...

* was there the day my nephew was born...

* was there when people I loved died...

* got married...

* bought not one, but two, homes...

* have braved three tattoos (and a fourth is yet to come!)...

* have had my cornea sliced off and a new one attached...

* have made and lost friends, and made many more...

* have stayed in the nicest hotels, and in tents in the middle of nowhere...

* have partied hard, and paid for it...

* have partied hard, and don't regret it because I had a blast...

* have gone out with three different guys in one weekend and got away with it...

* have made stupid mistakes, and learned from them...

* made some bad decisions and bad choices in my life...

* have made great decisions and great choices in my life...

* have had more jobs than I can count and am finally content in the one I have...

* have been published and had my art displayed...

* have had my heart broken by boys, and broke a few...

* have hiked up mountains, and had times when I could barely walk around the block...

* have owned a really cool sports car and some clunkers and loved them all...

* have had the best dogs in my life...

* rescued my dog, and he rescued me...

* have created with wild abandon, not caring one bit if people like my stuff or not...

* have had people come in to my life, briefly, and know there is a reason for it...

* have laughed at myself, many many many times....

* have been laughed at, and it hurts...

* have also learned to say to those people "you don't matter, so eff off!"...

* have hated me, and loved me...

* have climbed a waterfall, swam with stingrays, and snorkeled in some of the most beautiful places...

* have done things my mother would probably want to kill me for...

* have done things to make her proud, too...

* have had some really rough times, and some really amazing times, hard times, easy times, fun times, sad times, times of laughter, times of frustration, times of pride, and times of hurt, times of sadness, and times of immense joy...

* I. Have. Lived.....

Here's to turning 40...and the amazing journey that lies ahead!