Beautiful Wendy, thank you. “We make plans for our life and God laughs”... I’m coming up on my 50th birthday soon and therefore have delved into a lot of reflection lately of other decade birthdays. I think one of the hardest, ironically, was my 30th-- I just wasn’t where I had planned to be by 30, and I felt helpless and manic about it all. Anyway-- thank goodness for unanswered prayers is all I can say to that! Lol (probably not “all” but I’ll leave it there). Thanks again for sharing your reflection.
And here you are, almost 20 years later! With a whole new chapter opening up. So thrilled for you and can't wait to celebrate with you on your big day!
I'd love to see you try to capture what your 40's have been like in one of these decade poems!!! They are easy and fun to write, with short bits and phrases filled with so much meaning. Please share with me if you do!
I love this—and it’s all so true! I struggle a lot with embracing change— even if I know its unavoidable, or in some cases even if I know it’s for the best. I also find myself straddling a line where I both yearn immensely for change but then fight against it when it finally gets here—a recent example of this is wishing desperately that my kids would be better sleepers at night and yearning for them to move past the stage of needing me several times between 10pm and 5am, but then getting sad and wishing they’d stay little forever because when they get older, they don’t need me to snuggle them to sleep. As I enter my 40s next year, I am eager to see what the new decade is like! But, I am praying for daily contentment and "grounding" in this moment-- so that I don't lose out on the present with my preoccupation with the future. It's a big balancing act that I struggle with! Sorry for my rambling comment!
It's true! Some stages with our children are sooo hard! Like potty training. GET THROUGH that fast! But if we rush them into crawling, or walking, or even riding a bike without training wheels--there is no going back. They are moving on and up in the world, and we have to help them get there. But there is that tension of wanting to keep them little and enjoy them where they're at too. Always the both/and. I tell mine I'm going to take away their birthdays and keep them 6, or 9, or whatever and not let them grow up. They just laugh.
As for you turning 40 next year... I'd love to see you write a 30's poem!!! Quick! Before they're gone! Capture what this decade has been like!
My friend and reader/subscriber gave one of these decade poems a whirl and it's beautiful!!! I share with her permission:
My Thirties
I have a path / never mind, I don't have a path / embrace the unknown / who am I? / stop comparing / seeking purpose / finding my voice / stronger than I thought / so tired / immense joy / immense anxiety / trusting the process / becoming a mom three times / finding grace / forgiving myself / forgiving others / coping with Caribou / loneliness / sun on my face / new skills / brought to my knees / why is this happening / heavy depression / resilience / a love like no other / wow, I lack patience / never enough time / can’t do it all / seeking contentment / severing ties / rebuilding our life / yes, I'm worth it / learning what acceptance means / relationships are complicated / surprising myself / seeing God in others / vulnerability / never-ending responsibilities / gratitude / why can’t we just agree? / weary of conflict / finding middle ground / laughter that fills my soul / they are so beautiful / COVID pneumonia / long COVID / two weeks in a hospital feels like forever / fear unlike no other / moment by moment / let it go / hope is alive / that owl was Jesus / trying my best to give it to God / we made it / how am I so lucky / constant change / much to learn yet / why can't I concentrate? / it's okay not to know everything / gray hair / don't give up / I can run marathons / slow-growing confidence / finding light in the dark / I'm more than the sum of my parts.
Beautiful Wendy, thank you. “We make plans for our life and God laughs”... I’m coming up on my 50th birthday soon and therefore have delved into a lot of reflection lately of other decade birthdays. I think one of the hardest, ironically, was my 30th-- I just wasn’t where I had planned to be by 30, and I felt helpless and manic about it all. Anyway-- thank goodness for unanswered prayers is all I can say to that! Lol (probably not “all” but I’ll leave it there). Thanks again for sharing your reflection.
And here you are, almost 20 years later! With a whole new chapter opening up. So thrilled for you and can't wait to celebrate with you on your big day!
I'd love to see you try to capture what your 40's have been like in one of these decade poems!!! They are easy and fun to write, with short bits and phrases filled with so much meaning. Please share with me if you do!
I love this—and it’s all so true! I struggle a lot with embracing change— even if I know its unavoidable, or in some cases even if I know it’s for the best. I also find myself straddling a line where I both yearn immensely for change but then fight against it when it finally gets here—a recent example of this is wishing desperately that my kids would be better sleepers at night and yearning for them to move past the stage of needing me several times between 10pm and 5am, but then getting sad and wishing they’d stay little forever because when they get older, they don’t need me to snuggle them to sleep. As I enter my 40s next year, I am eager to see what the new decade is like! But, I am praying for daily contentment and "grounding" in this moment-- so that I don't lose out on the present with my preoccupation with the future. It's a big balancing act that I struggle with! Sorry for my rambling comment!
It's true! Some stages with our children are sooo hard! Like potty training. GET THROUGH that fast! But if we rush them into crawling, or walking, or even riding a bike without training wheels--there is no going back. They are moving on and up in the world, and we have to help them get there. But there is that tension of wanting to keep them little and enjoy them where they're at too. Always the both/and. I tell mine I'm going to take away their birthdays and keep them 6, or 9, or whatever and not let them grow up. They just laugh.
As for you turning 40 next year... I'd love to see you write a 30's poem!!! Quick! Before they're gone! Capture what this decade has been like!
Lovely! Especially love your part about friendships in fifties! I should think about doing one on seventies 🩵Keep making space for writing.
Oh please do!! I’d love to see it B! You have such a knack for this kind of thing! 🤍
My friend and reader/subscriber gave one of these decade poems a whirl and it's beautiful!!! I share with her permission:
My Thirties
I have a path / never mind, I don't have a path / embrace the unknown / who am I? / stop comparing / seeking purpose / finding my voice / stronger than I thought / so tired / immense joy / immense anxiety / trusting the process / becoming a mom three times / finding grace / forgiving myself / forgiving others / coping with Caribou / loneliness / sun on my face / new skills / brought to my knees / why is this happening / heavy depression / resilience / a love like no other / wow, I lack patience / never enough time / can’t do it all / seeking contentment / severing ties / rebuilding our life / yes, I'm worth it / learning what acceptance means / relationships are complicated / surprising myself / seeing God in others / vulnerability / never-ending responsibilities / gratitude / why can’t we just agree? / weary of conflict / finding middle ground / laughter that fills my soul / they are so beautiful / COVID pneumonia / long COVID / two weeks in a hospital feels like forever / fear unlike no other / moment by moment / let it go / hope is alive / that owl was Jesus / trying my best to give it to God / we made it / how am I so lucky / constant change / much to learn yet / why can't I concentrate? / it's okay not to know everything / gray hair / don't give up / I can run marathons / slow-growing confidence / finding light in the dark / I'm more than the sum of my parts.
JULIA HANSON