#60before60 or "And so it begins..."

I kept this blog for a few years back in the mid 2000's (which alone is crazy to realize that's over 20 years ago!). I called it "What I Am Thinking About Today" and it was a great creative outlet for me and way to process our experience of first moving to Guatemala and then moving to Bosnia (2004-2009). 

I love beginnings. Easter is my favorite holiday, I love January 1st, the 1st of any month, Monday is my favorite day of the week and the first day of school is always #priceless. I love beginning new adventures and trying new things and turning 59 today has me thinking about the beginning of a new decade. In this, my 60th year of life, I am going to chronicle my adventures. Mostly for myself. But if find something in my journey to relate to, or to inspire you to step outside of your comfort zone, I will be happy to have shared.

My birthday has always been significant. For all of us it's the only day of the year where it truly is "all about us." Birthdays are not usually perfect but hopefully you have had some amazing ones over the years. The last few years my birthday has been disappointing. No matter what I DID do or get, I always felt like something was missing. This was not about the people in my life. It was about me. Last year, I decided I was going to go away alone on my birthday and have zero expectations of anyone else. 

That is not what I did. Having recently gotten a new bed (I love my sleep number bed), I was reluctant to go spend the night elsewhere. I began to plan and focus on coming up with ONE perfect idea for my birthday to make it feel special. Weeks went by and I could not think of any one thing that sounded right. I realized as it got closer (well, I realized two days ago), that there was not any one perfect thing - that a collection of peace-filled and love-filled moments is what I was really craving. A day (or weekend) that was filled with moments that were right for me right where I am WAS my perfect.

So yesterday kicked off my pre-birthday with the most fun hour spent at Salt + Light Wellness with Tabitha Harper and Kate Albert. We just talked and relaxed (and listened to one 10 minute affirmation recording) and it was perfect. 

Then I went to lunch at 20Brix with Tabitha and her husband, Tom, and it was - again - perfect. Conversation. Connection. These are things I pursue often - and they ARE the perfect way to spend any day.

I received incredible flowers from my friend, Shelly, along with a priceless quote.

I sent flowers to myself for the first time in my life - Ranunculas, and they also were perfect. 

Dinner time came and I had planned to order Daughter's Kitchen Pizza for the first time - I have not been eating gluten - but I listened to my body (a relatively new experience) which said "I am not actually hungry" and instead waited and had a few nuts and cheese when I actually became hungry. And it was perfect.

The grandkids spent the night and we woke up early to get Chance off to his first Special Olympics. And birthday morning hugs were...perfect.

My idea of perfection has undergone a profound change this birthday week and I am the better for it. I am so excited about this year. I hope that you are also in a place in your life where you can feel excitement for the possibilities ahead of you.