December 21, 2013

43 and Growing


Yesterday was my 43rd birthday. I am really, truly loving my 40's. It was a perfect day. There was a book store, a visit to Anthropologie, lunch at my favorite restaurant, a mimosa, my favorite cupcake, thoughtful gifts, handmade treasures, grilled steak that cost too much money and birthday pie. All of that was lovely, but my very favorite part of the day, the part I never want to forget, is when my sweetie gazed at me with love from across the lunch table and told me that I have really grown into myself over the years and that I am more beautiful to him at 43 than I was at 29. That's the stuff right there. Blessed.

My birthday often feels like a fresh start to me. I don't know if everyone feels like that. I don't know if it feels that way because it's so close to New Year's, when most people get reflective of such things. I've just always really loved fresh starts. I moved so much when I was growing up but my eternal sense of optimism always had me focusing on the excitement of that fresh start. This birthday, even more than others, feels like a beginning to me. I have been spending more and more time in my studio, finding it hard to make myself come out. I am more me in that room than any other place in the world. I plan to live the next year of my life as creatively as possible. I love the feeling of excitement I wake up with, the ideas floating through my mind as I fall asleep at night. I love the JOY of loving and living my life. I think my guy is right in that I am growing into the me I was meant to be and embracing it. I'm living my life genuinely and I hope that just continues to grow in my life until it fills up every corner.

43. I like you already.




22 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. Sorry I didn't mean to delete the comment so here it is again: Happy Birthday Jen! It's so nice to see you had a lovely day and the sweet words by your hubby must have been the icing on the cake. For me it's the way you talk so positively of your 40's that gives me hope for my big 40 next April. Anna x

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  2. Happy Belated Birthday! What a lovely post. :)

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  3. Happy Happy 43 to you!!! Love your inspiring words and images and hope this next year is a wonderful as the last few!

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  4. Happy birthday. I feel the same about my 50's. This is the best time of life - we are comfortable in our own skin and don't need to be anything other than ourselves. Life is good! Enjoy!

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  5. A very Happy Birthday to you Jen!!!

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  6. Happy Birthday Wishes Jen xo
    I know exactly how you feel about birthdays being fresh starts ... mine is in January ~ always loved starting the New Year with a birthday :-)
    Hope your year is amazing ♥

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  7. Have a very Happy Birthday! I just love mine in May. I get soooo spoiled. :) Kit

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  8. Happy Birthday. Your husband was so sweet.

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  9. Happiest of birthdays to you! As a reader from (almost) the start of your blog, I'd say that I agree with your husband -- you have bloomed!

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  10. I look forward to your birthday posts every year. They are always filled with such optimism and hope. Maybe it's because its so close to New Years and my heart is ready for a new start, I don't know but thank you for sharing your joy. It's contagious! Happy Birthday.

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  11. Happy, Happy Birthday, JJ!
    Sounds like a dreamy way to spend your special day.
    Hugs and Smooches,
    T

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  12. Sounds like a wonderful way to spend your birthday. Happy happy birthday to you!

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  13. What a wonderful post! Happy birthday a little late -- I hope it will be another magical, wonderful year for you.

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  14. HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!! What a lovely day you had and what a great post. I knew your day was coming as mine is the 20th :) I think of you and another "blog friend" as we are around the same time. Thanks for sharing...LOVE it!

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  15. I loved being in my 40's so Happy Birthday to you and 43 is a great age to be! I like being in my 50's too! Love it that you said you are going to live the next year of your life more creatively! I know you will share those projects in a post-lucky us!!! I plan to try to give back to my community for the next year-it is what keeps me excited to be alive and gives my life a purpose, besides being a wife & Mother! I work part-time to fund my extra stuff and my giving. I especially love being a friend of the local library! Do you have a place that you give back to-with your creative efforts? Please share!

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  16. Hello lovely blog, it was my birthday recently too am a little bit further into my forties than you, but agree with your hubby. I have most definitely come into myself.
    Annie

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  17. Happy Birthday and MeRrY ChRiStMaS! You and everything you share here are beautiful! Taking time to stop in made my soul happy!
    (((hugs)))
    Leslie

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  18. Happy Birthday!! I have been loving my 40s so far, too (I'm 44). I feel like I'm finally settling down enough to just BE who I am. It's a great feeling. Best wishes! ~Angela~

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  19. It sounds like the most perfect day ever. And that man of yours sure has a way with words!

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  20. Happy (belated) Birthday Jen! It sounds like you had a lovely day, full of special moments and people. I hope that this year is a wonderful one for you...and that you share what you're creating here with us!

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