40 Years Young!!!
I celebrated my 40th birthday this past weekend and officially entered a new decade. Age is a funny little thing. When I was younger, I expected and believed that life should look a certain way by a particular age. I can even recall thinking that 40 years old was over the hill. Now that I am 40, I don't feel that way. I'm mentally and physically the best I've ever felt.
Every year that my birthday comes around, I always find myself in a bit of inward reflection. But, strangely enough, my birthday this year fell on Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence, and the start of the Hindu Saka New Year. So it is a day of reflection, where for 24hrs, you are not allowed outside your house and have no connection to the outside world and no electricity to be used.
Previously, it wasn't how I imagined celebrating my 40th birthday. Still, it was exactly what I needed, and I'm beyond grateful for it—a beautifully quiet, sunny day with my loving partner and our Bali mongrels. Of course, part of me wishes I could have had my friends and family here from New York, but I'm also aware that circumstances outside of myself are not in my control.
During this birthday milestone, my mind has also gone the negative, focusing on everything I haven't achieved yet, all the conditioned expectations I've put on myself. For example, thinking I should be further ahead with my new career path and not have my book done yet. So I give myself a hard time and completely forget how much I've already done and accomplished in the short time I've been alive.
Looking back over the years, I can reflect on how my 20's were somewhat a blur, and my 30's were of diving deep into my soul that naturally came to a lot of growth and learning. Now entering my 40s, I'm hopeful that the best years of my life will come, continuing to learn and grow.
I have so much to look forward to in the year ahead. I'm renovating a home in Bali, launching my new jewelry series, and recently hired an accountability partner to keep me on track with writing my book.
So cheers to being 40 years young! I'm excited to start my year dancing around the sun. So, I'm heading off to the Mentawais for two weeks of surf, sun, play, rejuvenation, and probably a bit more reflection.
Thank you to everyone who sent me birthday love and wishes.
Sending love,
Lauren