Elder Millennial Musings

Last year, I declared that 2023 would be my #yoloyear. I was turning 40 and celebrating 10 years of marriage; two major milestones that felt worthy of big time celebration. And, after 2+ years of pandemic living, I was ready to get nuts.

I’ve never been one to worry too much about aging. I’ve never gotten Botox, I regularly rock white hair between my hair color appointments, and I’ve generally always subscribed to the idea that age ain’t nothing but a number. But something about 40…it felt different. It felt like a real turning point.

Part of me wanted to wallow in the realization that – statistically speaking – my life is about half over. But another part of me wanted to celebrate the ever living shit out of this year because turning 40 beats the alternative every single time.

I can honestly say, this year of 40 has been one of the best of my life. I’ve taken the #yoloyear concept to heart and have traveled to Colombia, New York, France, California, and Canada. I’ve laughed more than ever, danced like nobody’s watching, eaten ALL the delicious food things, and popped more bottles of Prosecco than the Surgeon General would approve of.

But, wait! There’s more. In the next few months, I’ll be taking my kids to Universal Studios to visit Harry Potter and later to the House of Mouse to celebrate the start of the holiday season. AND, as if all that wasn’t enough, I’m checking off a bucket list item by going to Las Vegas to see my musical soul mate, Adele! I mean…pinch me!

In all of this hustle and bustle, I’ve also done more introspection than ever before. I’ve spent time with myself in silence and have really focused on building the life I’ve always said I wanted, but was too lazy to actually build. Self improvement projects are the hardest (hi, gym, I hate you). But they make all the other stuff so much easier to enjoy.

All that worry I had about turning 40…it’s mostly gone. If #yoloyear has taught me anything, it’s that I will never regret a single penny spent or moment shared with the people I love. I won’t ever feel bad about a work out, a meditation session, or an early bedtime. I will always feel good about living my life in a big, joyful way, and the more I focus on how grateful I am for these special moments in time, the more beautiful my life becomes.

My life may be half over, but that also means there’s a whole second half to come. How exciting is that?

With these realizations, I’m turning my #yoloyear into a #yololife. Because as a wise, wrongfully accused, fictional prisoner once taught us, you either get busy living, or you get busy dying.