I did it!

Yes, I turned 50 - that didn’t take much work other than sticking around for a half-century - but I also had the most amazing year possibly ever! It was epic.

Not because every moment was perfectly wonderful or because I conquered every fear or achieved every goal, or saw success at every turn — you know better if you’ve read any of these posts — but because I was thoughtful and intentional about what I wanted the view from rearview mirror to look like at this point.

I wanted to get to the end of my last year of my 40s feeling like I had adventured, like I knew where those 12 months went and how they were spent, like I’d had plenty of fun, memorable moments, like I’d challenged myself to get out of my comfort zone and push the limits of what I believe I’m capable of, like I’d shared the journey with friends and family, and maybe inspired a few women here and there to adventure in their own way.

I feel ALL that, looking back! And so much more…

The new friends I’ve made in a wide range of ages — a surprise blessing. The lessons I’ve learned about myself — beyond what I’d imagined. The things I’ve done that are now staples in my “fun just for fun’s sake” diet — Dimestories, square dancing, yurting, morning paddleboarding sessions with friends, the list goes on…

All wrapped up by celebrating 50 in exactly the way I’d dreamed (thank you, Neil and Blair and Dani!), with a whole slew of those I love most, many beautifully written sentiments and wishes I will treasure forever, plenty of dancing, an extravagant amount of laughter and my first-ever attempt at crowd-surfing! Seriously.

And now, looking ahead, there’s a lot of baked-in adventure for 2020: learning the ins and outs of my new job (Executive Director at my church); marrying off my oldest boy and becoming a mother-in-law and having a girl in our family; being far, far away from Cole as he studies abroad in Prague this semester; launching my business this spring; and trying to help Zane get on the road to independence - literally - as I continue to assume the role of driving coach from the passenger seat. Oh, and skydiving this summer - my birthday present from my boys and my man!

These, plus adventures I haven’t even anticipated yet. Plus some that I’m already initiating (just booked another yurt stay and acquired a triathlon buddy - hooray!). Plus difficult ones that I’d choose not to participate in if I had a choice: aging and illness of some of my favorite people in the world; financial, emotional, legal and spiritual struggles of friends and family and sometimes myself, too.

But I’ll take it all. All the adventure I can hold. Because, in the immortal words of Ice Age’s Sid the Sloth: “I choose life!” And life is all the things: the good, the bad, the easy, the hard and everything in between, right?

So I’m thankful. For my Year of Adventure. For all the adventures yet to come. For you, journeying with me. For the goal that I still find meaningful in this new year and new decade: to “live all the days of my life.”