Turning 43 on a Monday is the Monday-est of Birthdays (and why I low key love it)

In true Leo fashion, I love my birthday. Aaaaabsolutely love it.

I really just love birthdays in general. It's a time to celebrate and have fun with those we love...how can that be anything but an amazing time?!? Plus...CAKE!!!

Even if you hate birthdays, you have to admit that the cake is a pretty rad part of the whole thing.

But turning 43 on a Monday is seriously the Monday-est thing ever.

It's not an exciting -0 or -5 bday. It has no possibility of being a Golden Birthday or a fun repeating number bday. I've never heard anyone say 43 is their favorite number.

It's just. Forty-three.

Add to that, my husband's birthday is the day before mine (shout out Blake! Happy bday plus a day!!!) and he turned 40...which that celebration took center stage and we had an amazing weekend full of bday events.

So yeah. 43 on a Monday.

It's not even a fun day to go out to eat. Honestly, it's kind of a hassle.

Yesterday Blake shared a little antidote that one of his friends told him when they were playing disc golf on Saturday morning. To paraphrase a second hand story, he said "40 is like being at the top of a hill. You can see where all you've been and you can see where your life is really going. So you gotta make sure it's a life you like."

That really struck me. I'm over the metaphorical top of a hill and am on the path down it. Do I like what I see?

I mulled this over on Sunday...do I like the life that I have built? The people I am surrounded by? The things I am doing?

As I woke up today, do I feel any different?

I took a little self inventory.

I have lines in my face that show how much I laugh, how much I cry, how hard I think.

I have a body that yeah, my lower back creaks and I can no longer run in sky high heels...but she serves me well and I get to hug my people tight and lug around camera gear.

I have a family I love and adore...who support me and make my world brighter and better than I could ever imagine.

I have friends that are the best people I know...who inspire me and are just freakin fun to be around.

I have a business I have built brick by brick that brings me joy, supports us financially and allows me to use all of my experience and talent.

I have a community I am proud to be part of and a little slice of the internet that feels joyful and uplifting.

What an absolute privilege it is to get to grow old. To be filling my days with all of this beauty. To bring all of this with me into my next trip around the sun.

And as for Mondays,

I have started using them as days were I plan out my week and tend to my family & business needs first. I've started to be slower, more intentional on Mondays. I buy flowers and check out my calendar and sort through the priorities for my family & my business.

This week's bday flowers

What used to feel like a doldrum day now is the day I look most forward to. It's where I dream and plan and set myself up for success.

With my first day as a newly minted 43 year old, I am excited to dream and scheme for what this year will bring me.

It is the Monday-est of birthdays ever.

And that is neat.

Hi! It's me!