Yesterday the clock struck 39! Here are some thoughts on turning 39 and what I’ve learned so far in my 30s.
Yesterday was birthday #39. Remember back when I wrote about turning 24?! My first blog birthday 🙂
Maybe it’s because I don’t love the number 9, but turning 19, 29, and now 39 have felt like bigger transitions than started the new decade. (Ask me again in one year!)
While it’s weird to think how much time has passed since that first birthday I documented, and how I thought my parents were old when they turned 40, I feel every bit as cool now as I did then!
And I am 2x more confident and grounded as my life has evolved.
My cake was made by the uber talented Norkeita of Caked Up Cville!!
I asked for sprinkles and had no idea there would be a sprinkle explosion hidden on the inside!! I was so glad our photographer Sarah Cramer Shields was there to capture it during our family photo shoot!
Turning 39: A Letter For Almost 40 Year Olds
Dear Friends,
I know I don’t have to tell you this, but time feels like it is speeding up exponentially.
You know the Twin Paradox in physics? Where one twin travels the speed of light and the other is on earth? I’m the first twin traveling the speed of light!
Time is warping, and there is never enough of it.
Time is our most valuable nonrenewable resource
I think the best explanation for this is that we have so many more responsibilities now than we did decades ago.
I look at my kids and how they live in the moment. But they do that because they CAN.
They don’t have to think about what’s for dinner tomorrow, how they will pay the mortgage, or logistics for their care.
They just show up.
While I don’t wish I were a kid again, I do long for the days when I’d watch the clock strike 3:00 on the last day of school or after I’d finish my last exam in college and the semester was complete and my next big decision that day was which book to read.
The future stopped in the now.
In less than 10 more years, my oldest child will be college bound.
That is a lot more mind-blowing than my age crossing “over the hill.”
Time is also unpredictable.
This realization is why I love the Choose FI podcast.
I also recently listened to the audiobook for The Four Hour Work Week (lots of golden nuggets in there) and heard an interview by the author of this book: Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management For Mortals.
Time ticks by whether you realize it or not. Do you think this is why I have a minor new obsession with time!?
Diversity is the answer to everything
Nutrition. Community. Investments. Diversity inspires health and growth.
The more diverse the rainbow of foods you eat everyday the better.
Yes, that diversity includes foods that some of you might deem “unhealthy.”
Foods must play to their strengths just like when a community gathers people of different backgrounds, cultures, and talents, each person contributes in unique ways so the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
With age comes a curiosity and a sense of craving diversity in all areas.
When I asked my mom if she had any wisdom to share, she said “Don’t have the same argument over and over.”
Diversity in dissension encourages growth too!
Find ways to plan so you can live in the present
Living more mindfully in the present is a goal for many of us.
But with the challenges of adulting responsibilities, how do you balance between making a plan and staying mindful?
Plan a little: your dinners, your monthly spending, when it pays to have done a little research.
But also plan to be spontaneous!
Pack an adventure bag and map out a day trip so when you wake up on a Saturday with nothing to do, you can spontaneously do the thing you planned to do on this exact unknown day!
Stock your fridge with ingredients so you can create a meal in the moment.
Planning spontaneity doesn’t make living in that moment any less fun.
Not everyone is going to like you
And that’s totally fine. I know you guys are realizing this, too.
If you need a boost of body confidence, read this post. I’ve learned body image is more about perspective than numbers.
I was searching for a blog post recently when Google led me to an old photo of me on the beach.
I thought “damn, look at my muscles!” Then I read the comment captioned under it: “Wow she does NOT have a good body!”
Mind you this was years ago, before having kids, when I had 10x more time to focus on myself.
I almost had to laugh out loud that the me of today thought I looked smokin’ and this stranger on the internet could only see flaws.
Bodies are bodies are bodies and diversity of bodies makes us human.
No one should ever comment on someone else’s body shape.
End of story.
As long as your actions are fueled by kindness and empathy, it doesn’t matter what other people think.
One of my favorite quotes is by Maya Angelou:
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Make people feel good.
Love,
Kath, forever a cake lover
Kori Daniel says
I love this! Great reflections on the lessons you’ve learned in life so far. I admit I think I’ll struggle a tad turning 40 and entering a new decade, but I really cherish life. Age is but a number. I agree about NEVER commenting on someone’s body! It’s a shame that person felt insecure enough to write that. You’ve always looked splendid. I love the cake too!
Kath Younger says
Thank you for your thoughts Kori!
Cyn says
Happy Birthday, Kath! What a cool birthday cake! (only a very cool 39 year old would have a cake like that). Enjoy 🙂
Kath Younger says
Haha!!
Liz Piasecki says
Happy 39th from a soon to be 65 year old! You are doing life right…and teaching me lots on the way! I enjoy your blog so much, and wish you well!
Kath Younger says
Aw thank you!!
Melissa S says
This was a great post, Kath! Happy birthday!
Katie says
I’ll be turning 40 next June and I’m kind of excited for it. What I struggle with constantly is my spirit and mind feeling like it’s in its 20s but my body feeling like it’s in its 50s. I need to get those a little closer to each other 🙂 happy birthday!
Kath Younger says
I totally agree! I still feel 26 in my head, but my body is definitely slowing down!
Louise RD says
Happy birthday to someone who really seems to know how to ‘do life’ right- great post!
Kath Younger says
Thank you : > )
Amanda says
Happy Birthday! We’re pretty close in age, so it’s great to read your perspective. Definitely a positive way to look at getting older and all of the wonderful things that come with it!
Emma says
It is not your body that detractors dislike, it is your utter dishonesty.
Kath Younger says
Dishonesty about what??!
Megan says
Seriously. If you’re going to write it, have the guts to own it and respond.
Also, why are you even reading here? If you don’t like this blog, don’t read it.
Erin m. says
Love this! I turned 39 this year and can’t believe where the time went. I’ve been a very long-time reader (from the beginning???) and always enjoy your blog. Happy belated birthday!!
Kath Younger says
Thanks for reading all these years!!
Tiffany says
I don’t think I’ve ever commented on your posts before, but I felt inclined to today. I have followed your posts off and on for several years now. I don’t agree with every single thing you say or do, but that’s human. I still enjoy your posts and there are things that I do agree with and even admire. What triggered me to post was the person who wanted to call you out on “dishonesty” but no reasoning, no backing…how very rude.
(It’s her Birthday post, if you don’t like someone about Kath, she shouldn’t shed one tear if you stopping following her. Simple as that. Leaving her a rude comment is very uncalled for. Don’t bring her day down with negativity. Thank you).
Anyway- The pics of you with your two boys and cake are beautiful! Have a good day!
Amanda says
Happy happy birthday from another longtime reader! <3
Barbara says
I’m 20 years older than you! Oh my. Wow. Doesn’t matter. I still enjoy reading. And, I look forward to reading until you catch up with me! Happy birthday.
Cara says
I really appreciate this post. Thank you for your earnest reflections. And Happy Birthday!
Elle says
Happy birthday! The cake looks amazing and you look radiant! Getting older is a good thing, especially when you are happy, healthy and loved!
It’s so true that “not everyone’s going to like you” – we all know this yet we still want everyone to like us! A stranger was rude to me yesterday for no apparent reason and even though I told myself that they were probably going through something hard or having a bad day and they just happened to take it out on me, it still bothered me all day. Seems to be a life-long lesson (for me, anyway) to let it go and focus on all the good things. ‘
Wishing you good things in the year ahead!
Nikki says
Happy Belated Birthday!! You share a B-Day with my partner, so this year we had mini celebrations the weekend before, and this past one since the actual day fell during the work week lol. As a now 41 year old (rounding the bend to 42 in January) I can relate to so much of this! Will continue reading and enjoying your wonderful work, and looking forward to welcoming you to the fun fabulous 40 club next year 🙂
Vanessa says
Thanks for this post. I’m reading on the clock strike of my 39th. I see this is a year old- so Happy upcoming 40th!