Brain Ponders Life After 40

Last year at this time, I was so excited for my birthday. I was turning the big 4-0. Forty! I just loved the sound of it. I was not one of the people who feared hitting that number. I mean come on, 40 is the new 30 right? Flash forward to today. Birthday number 41. Why is it that THIS number makes me feel old?

Now don't get me wrong. I realize that while 41 may seem old to some of you, I'm talking to you Courtlin, I understand that I've got plenty of good years left in me. While my hair has left my head, and the hair I have in my beard may be turning grey, I'm in relatively good health. I'd even go as far to say I'm in better shape at 41 than I was at 40. I still consider myself to be a kid at heart. I love sports. I still play video games with my son. OK, I play video games even without my son. They say you're only as old as you act. Ask anyone that works with me and they'll swear I'm a third grader. But there is one thing that reminds me just how old I'm getting. My kids.

My dad and I had a conversation the other day about getting older. He told me that one of the reasons that you have children is to help you realize how old you're getting. He's right. I look at my age of 41 and don't think of it as 'old'. But then I look at my kids and how fast they're growing up. Chase is 11, Carly 7 and Cayleigh 5. 11 years gone in the blink of an eye. My dad then said that he realizes how old HE is when he sees his son is 41 with 3 kids. Children have a way of showing you just how old you are. They also have a way of making you see how lucky you are too. Thank you for all the birthday wishes. I'll be spending my night with Holly and the kids. Who could ask for a better gift!