Last night I went to sleep in my 30’s and this morning I woke up in my 40’s.  I’d like to say I feel different, older, more mature.  But I don’t.  It will be weird to say I’m 40.   I’m one of those people who “forgets” how old they are.  I always have to think about it before I answer.  Age just isn’t that important to me.  I feel young–I’m sure part of that is due to the fact that I am still in school–PhD or die!  Or that my kids are only 5 and 3 1/2.  I feel like I should be younger than 40.  I am certainly not where I thought I would be at 40.  But, I’m pretty happy with where I am and the life I have.  I wish I wasn’t so heavy.  I wish I didn’t have so much debt (thank you adoption, staying home as a mom, and college (undergrad, grad, grad, grad) and private school for our kids).  But all of those things that have put us in debt–have added so much more to our lives than they’ll cost us in the long run.

This is the year to put up or shut up.  I’ll finish my dissertation research and my dissertation before I turn 41.  I’ll finally commit to getting into the shape I want to be and to being healthy.  I owe it to myself and my kids.  I can say it hasn’t been a priority–because I have had other priorities–school, family, school, school, work, family.  But now it is time to make health a priority and to set a good example for my kids.

I love my life and who I am.  I can’t complain about being 40, because I can’t complain about where I am and what I have that makes my life great.

I use to wish for things and now I have everything I have ever wished for.  Everything else is gravy.  I have an amazing husband and two of the most wonderful kids in the world.  I have a family that I love and loves me.  I have a community that I belong to and amazing opportunities.  I have an education that is worth every single penny (and it’s a lot of pennies :)).  Is it perfect?  To others, no.  To me?  Absolutely. I would not trade what I am, who I am or what I have for anything.

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I dropped the ball with updating about my donating.  But I will give you a final total–I was able to ‘save’ $275 of money I would have otherwise spent on stuff we didn’t need and donate it all to charities.  I donated to many well known charities and to some smaller ones.  I am proud of what I was able to do in 6 weeks time.  Will I keep doing it?  I don’t know.  I will to some degree and I am a lot more aware of what I am spending and if it is really something we need.