I’ve just had a ‘significant’ birthday…
You know one of those with a zero at the end…
It doesn’t really bother me… but you always get asked how you feel.
I feel exactly the same, of course, but also I want to fist pump the air and say ‘Yes, I made it!’
Some people said to me ‘it’s just a number’… and they’re right of course.
But I think at this age, all birthdays become significant.
My Mum died at 61, I was just 23 and it had a huge impact on my life.
She was an amazing dressmaker… and we had often talked about her making my wedding dress.
But she didn’t even get to meet my husband… it would be another five years before I met him.
So yes, 60 does feel fairly significant to me.
It’s funny seeing my school friends on Facebook turning 60 too.
We’re all in the same ‘club’ together…
Some of them are retiring… many are not.
It’s an interesting time of life.
This weekend I’ve been asked to guide two meditation sessions and be on a panel as part of a Women’s Wellness Festival.
The organisers just sent through the schedule for the day and my two sessions will be in the Matriarch Tent.
Matriarch!
I have to admit, I have never thought of myself like that…
Initially, I thought ‘they’re saying I’m old’…
But after reflecting on it, and knowing one of the organisers of the event is a former student of mine from my lecturing days, I now see it as more of an acknowledgement…
Of what I’ve achieved…
Of my changing, but sort-of-linked, career path…
Of where I am now.
I actually feel quite honoured.
So back to turning 60… as one of my friends put it… ‘it now takes three 20 year olds to be as good as one of us!’
I like her thinking.
Ann 🙏