If 38 is Midlife, I Need To Retire

This morning I read an article called, "This is 38"; if you are interested in reading it (since I am referring to it) click here: THIS IS 38

I am looking forward to 40, probably for only one reason: I will be traveling to Wales to spend time with my best friend, Dana.  However, I can unfortunately state that I do feel older this year.  I can also emphatically state I am much happier with 38 than I was with 18, but maybe not as physically happy as I was at 28.

No matter where you are in life, there is always moments where you take a breath and realize you are in a completely different place than you anticipated years before.

I had no intentions of every having children 12 years ago when I met my husband, Jim.  I was newly out of a disappointing marriage, I was focusing on grad school, and I had my own place.  I was happy; I was independent.  If I was able to travel back in time and talk to that 26 year-old, I would probably slap her in the face and say - WAKE UP!  But what good would that do?  Especially considering she would need to experience the loss of her dear grandma, the change of careers, falling in love, having two beautiful daughters, and making a home from a fixer-upper.  But to think this is the middle?  I completely disagree.

I have been very fortunate to have three of my grandparents live a very long time, and one live almost just as long.  My father's parents are 85 and 90, and my mother's father will turn 95 next month.  I sincerely believe in the power of genes, therefore, 38 is not middle age (maybe 45 is...but then again my grandparents are still aging).

Not my mother, nor my children.  However, you get the point.

When I think of living in "the middle" I think of my amazing mother. She takes care of her elderly father, who refuses to leave his home, and she watches my sister's special needs daughter at least once a week.  I do not think I'm in the middle of this life, but still diligently peddling up the hill.  I appreciate the point of Lindsey Mead in her above article.  We all hit the "middle" at different points, but I do believe we should no longer believe 40 is over the hill or in the middle of our story.

I am looking forward to writing new chapters to my story, one that will probably amaze me looking back 20 years from now.  Where will the road on the other side of the hill lead?  That is the excitement that keeps life exciting and unpredictable; and truthfully what writes a great story.  Let the future begin!