"Before 40" Summary

My 40th birthday has come and gone, and my "Before 40" adventure is over.  Since this picture was taken a year ago...

I...

*Took Dylan to the beach for the first time (Ocean City, MD).
*Wore high heels for the first time.
*Baked my first cake and pie.
*Climbed a rock wall.
*Took a printmaking class.  Took a carriage ride with Santa.
*Tried papaya, mango, avocado, starfruit, kumquat, and gooseberries.
*Rode a unicycle.
*Took Dylan to Disney.
*Went in a "Hurricane Simulator".
*Ate at "The Melting Pot" (a fondue restaurant) for the first time.  Learned how to use a hula hoop.
*Rode a zip line.  Held a snake.
*Completed twelve acts of kindness in one month for under $100.

I have learned...
*Spending time as a family is always money well spent.
*I will probably never be a person who wears high heels.  I'm 5'11", clumsy, and I wear a size 11 narrow shoe.  Plus, I'm a bit of a tomboy.
*I will probably never love to cook or bake.
*I like to be active.  That doesn't mean I will ever join a gym, but I do enjoy playing sports, and I definitely want to go rock climbing again.   I loved the feeling of conquering something!
*Printmaking is not my thing, but I do miss the artistic, creative side of myself.
*The fruits that not many people eat are the fruits that not many people eat for a reason.
*When you get the chance to try something new don't think too much.  Just do it.  The chance might never present itself again.
*When you're a parent, nothing brings you more joy than seeing your child happy and excited.  It doesn't matter if you're at the grocery store, or Disney World, (although Disney is preferable).  Put down your phone and pay attention or you'll miss those priceless smiles and laughs.
*You miss out on a lot of fun if you worry about what people might think of you.
*Paying a ridiculous amount of money to cook your own food is stupid.  Period.
*You are never too old to learn something new.
*Conquering fear is exhilarating.
*What you give you get.  Do you think it is a coincidence that the DAY after I completed my 12 acts of kindness in which I spent a little less than $100, I opened a birthday card that had a $100 bill in it?  I don't.

I have loved trying new things this year, going new places, conquering fears, and having adventures.  I've also loved how excited Dylan and Jim got about my adventures, and that I was able to include them in some of them.  Like I said before, I believe that children learn much more by observing our actions than they do by listening to what we say.

Thank you to everyone who followed my "Before 40" adventures this past year.  Now... what new thing are you going to try?