35 Years Young

Have you ever looked back on your life and seen a very distinct fork in the road? There may have been multiple paths you could have taken, that would no doubt take your life in different directions, but you chose one specific road.... and look where it's led you.  When I look back on six years ago, I see that fork in my own road of life.  It was the summer I turned 29 and I made the decision to go back to school.  I also threw around the idea of putting my thoughts of what I read down on virtual paper.  Never did I realize that this path I chose would lead me to where I am standing today.

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Today I turn 35 years old.  Age has always just been a number to me, no real distinction of where I should be or want to be in life.  I've learned along the way it's just a symbol to signify time passing by.  Sometimes that represents sadness for me.  And that's okay, to feel sad.  It just reminds me that I've lived a good, healthy, happy life thus far.  But other times it's a representation of happiness.  Look what I've accomplished!  Wow, I've come far. -- Those are all thoughts that race through my mind as I turn another year older.

The reason I am even writing about this on my book blog today is because it always comes back to the choices I made those six years ago.  I was such a lost soul, who felt I was just going through the motions of life.  Time was passing me by and I never felt any real purpose.  Sure, I had good days and I was happy.  But when I stepped back and looked at the big picture of who I was and who I strived to be, it just felt grayish and uncertain.  I wanted to see more defined strokes, exuberant colors, and unfinished marks.

Who would have thought that picking up a book, falling in love with the storytelling, wanting to share those thoughts & emotions with the great wide world of the Internet (or even a classroom someday) would land me here.  Crazy how one decision, or perhaps a series of choices being made by myself, led me to this current route.  I love my life.  I love the people I've chosen to share it with, and the ones who have embraced me in their life as well.  The world can be hard and ugly sometimes.  It's important to fill your days with beauty.  

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I am 35 years old today.  I am also 35 years young today.  This journey I've found myself on hasn't always been easy.  Just getting to that classroom, and fulfilling my want to teach was a struggle and continues to be a challenge every day.  But it's a battle I want to keep striving for.  Some days I'll win, and some days I may lose.  And that is okay.  I've put so much of my time and myself into this blog.  I share these words on what I read because I truly believe the written word is a powerful tool.  It can ease the soul, while expanding our minds.  It brings together people from all parts of the world to talk, laugh, and love over something as simple as a story.  I want those kinds of people forever in my corner.

This isn't a declaration of my choices, but simply a celebration of the fact that I am still standing, still learning, still moving forward.  35 years has taught me a heck of a lot.  But I also know the next 35+ years will teach me even more.  My story isn't nearly over.  Some days it feels like it's just beginning...