Birthday thoughts: forty-three

Forty-three is the smallest non-palindromic prime which on subtracting its reverse gives a perfect square: 43 – 34 = 9.

How’s that for an obscure fact you probably don’t care a thing about? Unless you’re a math geek, in which case you probably enjoyed that factoid; to each his own, my friends. (I’m more of a word nerd.)

Forty-three is also how old I am today.

Birthdays seem a more logical time to analyze life and assess goals than the start of a new calendar year. To me, every birthday feels like an accomplishment: I’m here, I’m alive, I persevered through challenges, and I can choose to whine about getting older or I can celebrate.

I choose to celebrate.

For my year of 42, I’d say my biggest accomplishment is feeling more like the real me. I tend to be a people-pleaser but that old saying about not being able to please all the people is absolutely true, doggone it. So I’m learning focus more on doing what I believe to be right and true instead of trying to keep everybody happy. {Confession: it’s still hard.}

I’ve come a long way this year in regaining my balance in life, not feeling completely out of kilter all the time. I’ve been reminded how important self-care is for being the best wife/mother/etc I can be. Some key relationships in my life have grown, and for that I am grateful; however, I’ve set strong boundaries around toxic relationships. God and I still have some things to sort out but that finally feels possible now. All in all, 42 has not been “the answer to everything,” but it’s been progress forward, and that’s all I ask for.

Now I plan to rock being 43.

Just a few of the things I’m most looking forward to this year:

• sea turtle nest-sitting
• hearing Carter call me J-Ma (or something close!)
• welcoming grandbabies #2 and #3 to the world
• completing a half marathon (maybe more than one!)
• celebrating a dozen years of marriage with my favorite guy
• learning new things and exploring the world around me!

Happy birthday to me — and to you, whenever yours is!

Jamie

Wife, mama, homeschooler, dog-wrangler. Introvert who finds joy in good books, sunshine, and authentic conversation. Fitness enthusiast and strength coach. Often seen with a steaming mug of tea in hand.