Something happened at 40

Three months ago, I turned the big 4-0.

Now I'm a person who loves birthdays. Birthdays were always important in our house growing up. Even now, my brothers and sisters and I always call each other on our birthdays no matter where we are. And when my nieces and nephews were smaller, we made a big deal out of their birthdays too. So birthdays have always been special to me.

But something happened at 40...

Oh I still celebrated my big day. In fact, my family had a surprise birthday party for me, and I felt like a kid at Christmas! It was great!

But somewhere within me, something happened at 40...

Something that caused me to reflect not just on who I was.
(I'd figured that out in my 30's)
But rather to reflect on who I wanted to be.

Recently I adopted a 4 month old puppy, and I named her Nadia. Nadia was a stray that found herself at our local dog pound. She needed a home. And I needed her.

Each day as I watch her play and romp through my house, I'm amazed at her inquisitiveness and energy. She doesn't miss a beat nor anything around her. And yet she enjoys her down time too as she finds simple enjoyment in cuddling with me or giving soft sweet puppy kisses.

She sees the world through the eyes of someone who know what life is really about.


And the other day as I watched her sleeping, it hit me.
She was who I wanted to be.
No I don't mean that I always wanted to be a dog.
(Although some of them have some pretty good lives)

But what I mean is this:

Nadia is always herself. She doesn't spend time apologizing for that, but rather she spends time being who and what she is. Each day brings new adventure and discovery for her, even in things she saw and learned the day before. She doesn't let a moment pass wasted by her, instead she seizes that moment to be who she was called and created to be.
She adds something of herself to each day.

When my other dogs were puppies, I was so busy trying to get them through the chewing and biting puppy stuff, that their puppyhood passed right by me. And even now I'm guilty of trying so hard to get from one point in my life to another that I miss the details in between. I forget to live and enjoy life.

Nadia has taught me that life isn't a grocery list that I check off as I get to each new level. But rather life consists of new moments, every day. And those moments should not be crossed off or conquered, but enjoyed by living them.

I'd say Nadia was one smart puppy, but I could be biased.

But one thing's for sure...when I grow up...I want to be just like her.

Oh did I tell you that the Egyptian translation for Nadia means, called by God?

Definitely she was called to be my gift, and one of my greatest teachers.

And as my 40's are calling me and beckoning me to enter this new season in my life, I feel like I'm ready now. Ready to start living.

Like I told ya, something happened at 40...