Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month until July 18th I will be sharing my thoughts about turning 50 which I will celebrate on July 18th.  And yes, I said, celebrate!

I ran into a high school classmate yesterday who attended the Rotary Club meeting where I was their featured speaker.  Part of my talk was about a theme in my book about how ordinary issues can stop us from living our best life. For me, those issues were shyness, lack of self-confidence and worrying what others think of me.

While some of these issues still surface in my everyday life, I find myself so much more comfortable in my own skin. My classmate and I talked for a bit afterwards as she shared with me that she thought my book would be good for her 21 and 24 year old. Her daughter struggling with the same issues as I talked about.  We both agreed we feel so much more comfortable in our own skin, and wished that for young people. While yes, some of this comes with age and gained wisdom, we wondered how this could be taught to younger kids.

Maybe it can, and maybe it can’t. I don’t know for sure. But I do believe it is part of why I feel passionate about embracing turning 50 three months from today. I want to be a positive example to our younger generation. My classmate and I both also said that we wished we had known now what we didn’t know then. I don’t know if that can truly ever be–but I do believe it can start with being an example that getting older is not such a bad thing.

Yes, it has its challenges, that there is no doubt. And it is hard to watch our parents, friends, and family age if they are not well, and struggling.  But I think of the many who have a great life, minor health issues, and they complain about their age or getting older. It seems such a shame.

Maybe I’ll eat my own words as I continue to age, but for me, I want to continue working on my own self growth as well as my spirituality, which helps me through the twists and turns of life… not to mention, staying in awareness of what my pets teach me and applying that to my own life.

Just a note that my Joyful Paws Jaunt Blog Tour continues tomorrow with a stop at Dr. Diane Dike’s radio program Second Chance with Saving Grace.  Show begins at 11:00am CST- Wheelchair Bound Dachshund – Frankie – Teaches Important Lessons .