#frankly40

Yesterday was my fortieth birthday.

It began in my bed as the sunlight peeled my eyelids back with a delicate coaxing that was somehow sympathetic to the birthday activities that had transpired over the weekend. Shrouded in sheets as warm as freshly dried laundry, I reached for my phone and began scrolling through the notifications.

There’s something almost cathartic about having a birthday on social media, especially a milestone birthday. Seeing the names of friends from various times in my lifetime, wishing me good tidings or offering advice.. Well, it just put a few things in perspective.

I’ve been so fortunate to have met some amazing individuals in my life.

I’ve earned generous salaries in high profile positions for profitable companies yet some of my most powerful lessons have come from scrubbing up other people’s messes.

I have loved and been loved by some truly beautiful people, yet earned some of my most valuable emotional scars from some real assholes.

I’ve developed some of the most treasured friendships along the way, many of which still remain stronger than ever.. But I’ve made some enemies too, often unintentionally.

I’ve stared death in the face more times than I care to admit, yet here I stand today: a testament to the power of kindness and generosity from loved ones who will have your back unconditionally. … And for that, I am so very thankful!

To say I’ve lived a very long and full life already at the age of forty would be a severe understatement. But the biggest twist of irony is that I don’t really feel my age. In fact, I would more likely assess myself as a 30-year-old (if even that) in terms of how I feel, physically and emotionally.

Growing up, I always felt much older than my actual age, but somehow as the years progressed, my natural inclination to be so grown up diminished. Maturity levels aside, the aging process seemed to only make my inner child that much more eager to be released.

And as I celebrated my birthday this past weekend, I was reminded that age really is just a state of mind. Sure, I can be an adult when the appropriate situation warrants itself. But for now, I’m going to have fun with this whole forty thing.