With less than 2 months to go until I turn 40, many people have been asking me whether I've completed my list of 40b440. Well you only have to glance at the list to see that there are still 17 more challenges waiting to turn red. 23 complete: "not too impressive" I suspect you think. "How will she get 17 done in less than 2 months?" Well the truth of it is that I won't! Sure, I will probably achieve a few more - some are well on the way; one will be achieved tonight... no not number 27. But all 17? Highly unlikely.
I said right from the start that it wasn't about finishing them but the dreaded J word (that would be "journey" not "jelly"). And that has been true. For the last 2 years I've had something really positive in my life to focus on. Being a single girl in your late 30s life can sometimes seem tough. Yet another wedding to go to on your own; another Valentines Day alone; Christmas parties, Saturday nights in, Saturday nights out... you name it they keep coming and all of them with just yourself for company. But don't feel sorry for me; this absolutely isn't a cry for help or a pity party because for the last 2 years I've had a blast.
I've had things to look forward to, plans to make. So many friends have wanted to be involved. I've travelled to places I've never been: done things I would never have bothered to do. I've met new people and reconnected with old friends. It's been amazing!
I've even inspired people to make their own lists. I've inspired people!
When people start to write their own lists they always start with big things:
"Get married"
"Have a child"
"Become America's Next Top Model"
And they always seem surprised that there are no big things on my list. I always counter with the fact that I wanted to make them achievable and that these were more fun... but a funny thing has happened in the last few months. Whilst the big things never seemed worth pursuing before, the closer I've got to my 40th the more they seem to matter. Life has taken over from my 40b440 list. I've started to put all my efforts into achieving the dream job and buying my first property instead of catching a fish or going for a nice walk.
That's not to say the things on my list are any less worthwhile. They've given me so much. They've helped me (*cliches alert*) re-find myself to some extent as they've forced me to rediscover my creative side more. I wouldn't be the person I am today if it weren't for the little things. Without them the big things wouldn't be happening in my life.
I'm not going to apologise for this post being a very different tone to my normal ones. The silly will return I'm sure. I just think that it's important to evaluate what you've achieved and where life has taken you. It may look like I've only done 57.5% of my challenges but my life improvement score is way higher. As the great Ferris Bueller once said:
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
Make sure you do the same.
