Yesterday, I celebrated a milestone birthday.  I turned 60!  The day before my birthday, I sat for a moment and contemplated the upcoming event.  It suddenly dawned on me that I was turning 60!  “How in the world did that happen?” I wondered incredulously.

I have never been one to dread an upcoming birthday except for when I turned 27.  Shortly thereafter, I learned I was pregnant with my first child.  Whacky hormones! A birthday is just a reminder that we’ve been blessed with another year of living.  The alternative is far worse!

When I was younger, I often wondered what it would feel like to be “old”?  Right now, at this very moment I feel accomplished.  Oh sure, there are those days when there is an extra ache or pain or one of my moving parts doesn’t move quite right.  But, for the most part…accomplished is a word I would use to describe how it feels to be 60.

When I look back at my life, I see all of the things I have accomplished!  Look…here’s a list.  I earned a Bachelor’s degree, married, served four years in the military in Europe and traveled Europe. I traveled to Italy four times, had two children, and divorced. I have traveled and lived all over the United States, owned my own home, raised my children, and helped send them to college.  I went back to school and earned a teaching license, taught, remarried, earned a Master’s Degree and retired from teaching.  I have traveled to Alaska, Hawaii, and Mexico three times.  There was some fun in there, but there was a lot of hard work in there too…so yes, I feel accomplished!  At 60, you feel accomplished because now I am beginning to see some of the fruits of my work.

In my life, I’ve not always said and done the right thing, but I have learned from my mistakes.  I sometimes think I’ve arrived at 60 just by chance.  Other times, I have said and done all of the right things and played everything by the book and I still think it has been God’s grace that has delivered me to this place right now.

I have lived a full life these past 60 years.   I’ve loved and lost.  Some of those I’ve loved I’ve lost through either death, or moving, or other unfortunate circumstances.  But, I have grown.  I have grown spiritually and emotionally, and I have matured into an adult.  Although some days I am as if a child in awe of the many blessings, I have received.  What did I do to deserve so much good?

I have my health, my husband, my children, grandchildren,  extended family and friends. I am loved.  I have food to eat and a warm place to live.  I’ve traveled and look forward to more.  I was blessed with the opportunity to do rewarding work as a member of the military, a mother, and teacher.

How did I get to 60?  I have lived!   And,  I have the bumps and scrapes and scars to prove it! Yet, there is so much more to live for.

Here is to another 60!

CHEERS!

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