Another birthday is looming in front of me, the glare of 42 candles searing my eyes. Yep, 42 big ones, and I’m thinking it’s high time for a mid-life crisis. A mix-it-up, throw-it-in-the-air-like-you-just-don’t care, shake-up-the-snow-globe-and-see-where-the-flakes-land mid-life event. It could be an extravaganza.
Maybe we all need a mid-life shake-up every few decades. I’m not talking about getting a sports car or trading in the hubs for a younger model. I’m talking about checking in and asking ourselves some tough questions.
Like, Self, who the heck are you called to be? What makes you truly, deep-in-your belly happy? What is holding you back from taking a leap? And for God’s sake, why oh why are you holding so tightly to the things that are squelching and smushing your obvious greatness?
Back to the looming birthday. There are many downsides to getting older, like finding out what “crepey” skin is and the cruel effects of gravity on all things beginning with T and A. But the upsides are very, very uppity.
You become more comfortable in your crepey, droopy skin. You start to accept and maybe even embrace yourself for who you are. All the background noise starts to fade, and you realize what’s really important: relationships, family, love.
All this clarity is certainly a blessing, but it also comes with responsibility. DARN IT! Sometimes, clarity calls you to act. It may call you to be bold and shake up the snow globe winter village that you have spent your life creating. It may call you to quit your job, end a relationship, move, or stop a bad habit that is wreaking havoc upon your life.
Truthfully, clarity can be a real pain in the ass. Once you join the 40’s club, you can’t hide behind the curtain of youthful ignorance anymore. Frankly, you’ve known yourself long enough now to call yourself on your own hogwash hooey. Generally, you know what you need to do; it’s just a matter of finding your kahunas and being brave enough to do it.
So as my own furnace of 42 candles burns brightly this year, I’m feeling the urge to dip my toe in some new waters. Truthfully, it scares me to death. I’m hoping I find some smidgen of courage to dive in and see where the current takes me. At the very least, I’ll go for a refreshing mid-life swim.
~Emily
lucky penny 