40 Years of Gratitude

Here I am, celebrating my 40th circle around the sun and I want to share just how grateful I am! This is a thing I do on milestone birthdays apparently. You can tell because I did it for 30 and 35 here: 30 things about me, 35 things I feel are important to do by 35. I swear I did it at 27, too, but I sure can’t find that… probably on an old version of the blog. You might not think of that as a milestone year but it was for me. It was the year I decided to start the rest of my life. When I came to terms with my financial crash, when I officially survived a divorce, shirked ‘normal’ and figured out a new plan which has never stopped being flexible and beneficial. It’s also the year I started this blog! (wow, 13 years of blogging!?) It’s nice to take a moment and reflect. so, if you’re reading this, thanks for indulging me.

This blog has been such a helpful journey for me. My therapy at times, my accomplishments at others. It’s where I could learn to boast about my skills as well as where I found joy in helping others. It’s fun to see how I have grown through the years emotionally, too. In just ten years I have gone from my self centered (necessary) list of important facts about me. To my self aggrandized ‘wisdom’ sharing about what is important in this world (it’s different for everyone). To this year, all I have is gratitude.

So, here I am sharing 40 things I am grateful for to celebrate the end of my 40th year on this blue marble in the abyss.

I am grateful:

1. I get to be on this earth still! A lot of people don’t make it this far. I am lucky!
2. I have an amazing partner who supports basically anything I am interested in. Sometimes financially, always emotionally.
3. To have an amazing, creative daughter who colors my world and teaches me new things about myself every day.
4. To have an equally amazing, stubborn son who challenges everything and changes dynamics in meaningful ways.
5. To have had a support system who caught me once or twice.
6. For my cousins, particularly Sage.
7. That I have found kindness in the world, over and over again.
8. To get the opportunity to BE kindness to others.
9. To have had all of the most wonderful pets, from my childhood cat Noche all the way to the great Denver dog. They each taught me unconditional love and responsibility to something outside of myself. I am a better person because of the pets who have shared their life with me.
10. I am grateful to have had some humbling experiences in my life that knocked me on my bum.
11. They gave me the more rewarding experience, which is to overcome.
12. I’m grateful my family is healthy.
13. I have had some incredibly beautiful days where I got to see the most unique parts of our country, hand in hand with my kids.
14. I’ve made friends who challenge, encourage and enlighten me.
15. I am grateful that I didn’t end it all way back when I thought that was the best path forward. It was worth hanging on.
16. To try to break generational cycles, even when it completely sucks the happy out of my day, it’s important.
17. So grateful to therapists for stitching it all together!
18. To be a change maker, in any big or small way that I can.
19. To be able to approach my goals with caution and concentration.
20. For the availability of resources that help me on my way!
21. I am grateful that a lot of what I like to do resonates with others.
22. I am grateful this blog has been able to help sustain my lifestyle, financially, and that I even took the risk to try that.
23. I am grateful for a magnificent home to shelter us from the weather and cultivate our dreams.
24. For the bravery to try, again and again.
25. For these beautiful acres we get to steward.
26. For my desire and ability to learn.
27. For a loving community that we sought out and chose to be a part of.
28. For my stubborn streak which gets me through some tricky times.
29. That my kids are growing up learning to love themselves first.
30. For the ability to use my body for hard labor.
31. For hot showers and clean sheets at the end of a long day.
32. That I am creative and that I have found other creative people to call friends.
33. That I get to guide my children’s education personally.
34. For successful experiences as well as failures.
35. For thinkers who work so hard to put their thoughts on a page/picture in a way that helps and inspires others.
36. For seasons that are always revealing the beauty in the world, whether it be a fresh sledding path or a bushel of spring flowers.
37. I am grateful for home cooked meals and family game nights.
38. For every milestone passed along our way.
39. To live a life I am proud of.
40. For you all here, supporting my chaos and encouraging my dreams. Thank you!

For my birthday, I request that you get yourself a little treat. You can decide if that means a new shirt or a quiet moment with your thoughts or your favorite cup of tea. I just hope you take a moment to appreciate your life. I love you. I am grateful for you and the impact you might not even know you have had on my life!

Yours truly,

~Macy