My Journey Continues

Disclaimer, this post has nothing to do with design, so if you don't feel like reading, I so understand...

Today, I turned 40.  


When I was 16, 40 seemed a lifetime away, now that I'm 40, 16 seems like yesterday.  This is the first birthday I've had where I actually had a little anxiety approaching it, not about turning the BIG 4 0 but about where I am in my life currently.  (Maybe I'm having a mid-life crisis... anywoo)

It's so easy to get discouraged if you're looking at the next person and measuring your success against someone else's life plus in the society in which we live today so much emphasis is given to staying young as if growing older is a disease.  It's especially harder on us women because the message is always out there pushing us to always compete to an ideal that no human person can achieve.

Today when I woke up, I was laying in bed and thinking about my life so far and I can I tell you the anxiety faded away.  While I still have many things I want to accomplish, I've realized that whatever I've done so far is enough.  As Oprah says 'I am Enough'.  When I immigrated to the US at 14 years old, my mom, my three siblings and I lived in one bedroom in my grandmother's house for three years until she could save up to move to an apartment.  Basically, we were poor but we had each other and I never look back on that time as a struggle because really all you need at the end of the day is a loving family.  With scholarships, loans and aid, I put myself through college and I have two pieces of paper on the wall that won't ever expire. :)  I have a great job, I own my house (well along with bank) and I have two great kids, all while being a single parent.

I've realized that we all have different paths we need to walk and measuring your life or journey against another person can be detrimental and will leave you feeling inadequate all the time.  However, while some of us will be superstars for the world, most of us can be superstars for our friends and family. 

I'm leaving you with one of my favorite people, Lady B, who has walked her own path to super stardom.  Her song, "I was here", says it all. I'm going continue walking my path and living my best life.  So I'm praying that God continues to bless and keep me because with him, all things are possible.  I'm looking forward to the next 40 plus years. 

 P.S. Happy Birthday to my twin, Lettie, who has decided that she going to be 36 forever.  :)