741--A Year in Review

No, I am not going to give you a medieval history lesson focused on the year 741. This is blog post 741. And it is my birthday. So, for my own entertainment I thought I'd review the past year as a way to end my annual blog book.

Come on back tomorrow, as I'll still be blogging, but on my birthday each year, I slurp my posts into a virtual book and have it literally printed and bound. I count it as my journal for the year. And today is the day.

Being 40 wasn't nearly as bad as I had feared. It still wasn't like being 23, but not all the death and destruction I thought I'd encounter.

I have noticed, however, that being 40 gives your body reasons to start to physically fall apart. In the last few months my knees have been giving me trouble--stiff and sore and odd pains going up and down the stairs. Oh, and the metabolism has basically stopped. Dangit.

Emotionally being forty is the bomb! I don't really care what people think of me anymore. It is nice when I meet people and they like me, but if they are rude, insensitive, belligerent, or arrogant, I just don't care. This is who I am, people. Take it or leave it. That is a hugely refreshing feeling.

Mentally, I feel just as sharp as ever, until I head into a room and forget why I am there. Luckily these "senior" moments are fleeting, but they do still unnerve me when they happen. I think there are too many memories in my head too by this age, so I can't seem to recall all the things that happened in the years past as easily. I am sure they memory is still there, but I have to work harder to recall it.

Socially, I have the best of both worlds--good friends in every facet of my life, and good relationships with my family. I love seeing the overlap in friends that once were only PTA or school friends, and now are also Swim team friends, Strawberry Days friends, lunch time friends, or girl's night out friends. And the best part is that I'd rather do stuff with Genius Golfer and the kids most of all.

Spiritually I know I have much to learn, but I feel like I can believe and be faithful unabashedly as a forty-year-old. I love that I am still looking for miracles and find so much gratitude when they manifest themselves in my life. I stand with firmer faith in a Heavenly Father who loves me as my faith is tried and tested and then I'm blessed for it. I understand a little more each year the magnitude of love my Savior has for me and the everlasting gift of His atonement that I can make use of in my life. More and more I understand that the Gospel is true and I love it.

Being 40 has it's perks, and I'm learning to love this time of my life. Because, really, what other options are there?