I turned 40 today. Don't worry, I'm not about to jump off the edge of reality and fall into the mire of midlife crisis. I'm actually looking forward to this milestone birthday. I hear from many friends that they really started to shine in life when they reached 40. I'm hoping this is true for me, as well.
While I'm excited about 40 I'm feeling reflective
today. 40 is an exciting age to be. I'm excited for it. I welcome it
with open arms and a huge smile.
I also approach this new decade looking back. I was thinking about this yesterday. I'm at
midlife, unless I live to be 100. I haven't accomplished some of what I
hoped to by this point in my life. Some of that is because goals and
wants and needs changed over time. Some because I realized the goals I
had set were not in any way realistic.
40 also means that
there is less time to do some of the things I had wanted to do by now.
Since I'm in that reflective mode and want to see opportunities rather
than loss, below are my thoughts on a couple of the big items.
I
am not published - by a formal publishing house or self published. I
wanted to have several published novels under my belt by this time in my
life. I don't. I have several unpublished novels under my belt so while
I'm mildly disappointed I don't feel I've missed the mark with this
goal. Until the last year or so it wasn't realistic to self-publish in
any way that would allow the author to actually make money. As for a
traditional publishing house, that is up to the whims of the powers that
be, not up to me. I will continue to pursue traditional publishing but I
think I will also find a critique partner this year or a mentor so I
can grow as a writer. If I'm good enough I may pursue self-publication.
This is not lost time. This is the right time and I firmly believe that.
I haven't traveled beyond North America. I want to travel to
Tuscany, Venice, Ireland, Scotland, London, Bath, New Zealand, Thailand,
Japan, and many additional places. I haven't. We bought a house that
needed much fixing up and that is where our money and time has gone. I
had hoped that by now we would have at least one trip under our belts
but no. In the next 5 years my goal is to have at least 2 overseas
excursions beneath my belt - with or without the husband.
I
wanted to have a coaching business by now. I recognize that a couple of
things have stood in my way. I'm not certified by any of the
BIG certification programs and that makes me feel I should get certified
before I build my business. It's more a CYA thing than a competency
thing, but it does keep me from moving forward. Choices around where to
spend money have continued to bump this down the list but the husband
and I have an agreement that once the house is done (please let it be
not too much longer) we will have the funds to pay for certification.
Yay!
I also know nothing about running my own business and
honestly am a little freaked out about not having a consistent paycheck.
In the next couple of years along with a writing mentor I want to find
someone who has been there and built their business to see if they would
be willing to mentor me. Knowledge is power and my fear is based on not
knowing. I may always have at least a part time job but it would be
nice to remove the fear and barriers to see if I can really make a go of
coaching.
Those are my big items and as I approach 40 I can see
with clarity what I need to do to move forward with these dreams and
take them to the next level. I don't think that has anything to do with
turning 40. Or maybe it does. Maybe with age comes that crystal clarity
and as I approach a milestone marker in my life I recognize that life
isn't forever and if I want to take dreams into reality I need to make
conscious and actionable goals. Or maybe it's just I needed to grow up
more in order to really truly reach for these goals.
Either way,
I'm now 40. I'm excited and while a lot of life has been
lived, there is so much more life waiting for me. I'm looking forward to
seeing what doors open.
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