'40 in 40': BFly's 40th Birthday Bucket List

In forty weeks and six days, I will be celebrating my fortieth birthday. Me, 40 years old…..WOW. Unlike when I was facing the age of 30, I am not feeling sad about turning 40. I was almost always the eldest person in my close group of relatives & friends and I’ve never had a problem with that…..at any age. That might be because I’ve never looked my age so it always felt good to hear people say, ‘You’re (insert number) years old?! GTFOH!’ or could be because I’ve just never had a problem with my age.  It feels weird when I say it aloud but other than that, hey, it is what it is.  Anyway, in my 39 years and 86 days on earth, I’ve had all kinds of experiences, been many places and met hundreds (thousands?) of people. Most of these experiences, I have shared with my siblings, relatives or long-time close friends. But there are many more people I should meet & share life with and much more for me to see, do, experience and enjoy.  So, in what I call my ‘Second Act’ of life, I intend to broaden my horizons, step outside my same ole square box and stop spending so much time in my comfort zone.

To kick off my ‘second act,’ I have decided to have 40 new experiences (big or small) in the 40 weeks leading up to my 40^th birthday. Each week, beginning Thursday, March 1^st and ending Wednesday, December 5^th, I will do something new or different; every following Thursday, beginning March 8^th and ending on my birthday, December 6^th, I will post about the new experience I had the week before. So far, I have compiled a list of  <40 things I would like to do.  As time goes on, I’m sure I will be inspired to add more to the list. I am also open to suggestions.

BFly's 40^th Birthday Bucket List:

1. Go one full week (that’s 7 days or 148 hours) without any contact or communication with my sisters. (Please pray for me!)

2. Submit my writing to at least one major magazine.
October 2013

3. Lose, at least, 40 lbs.

4. Become a licensed bartender.

5. Relocate to Charlotte, NC.
August 2013

6. Take a weekend long trip with myself.

7. Ask a guy out on a date.

8. Pick up the tab on a date (not necessarily the date in #7).  I was asked out on a lunch date and my date was shocked out of his socks pleasantly surprised when I offered to pick up the check. 3/23/12

9. Fall in love….with someone worthy of my love.

10. Go one week without spending any $ on fast food/dining out.
October 2013

11. Make a sexy calendar 

12. Start a job doing something I love.

13. Take a dance class.

14. Get a(nother) tattoo

15. Treat myself to a spa day

16. Host at least one Charity Event

17. Break at least one of my bad habits (going to bed late, getting up late, eating out 90% of the time, procrastinating 90% of the time, not sticking to savings plan, overspending on gifts for others……just to name a few).

18. Have the awkward conversation that I’ve been avoiding; gotta say it and move on

19. Run for at least a half mile.

20. Eat something I’ve never eaten before at a restaurant I’ve never been to. (Any suggestions?)
21. Make peace with each of my siblings (oh, you thought we were 'perfect?'...NOT.....pray for me!)
Aug 2013
22. Purchase something outrageously expensive (nothing to make me homeless but something I'd otherwise say, "sheeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiittttt!" to)
23. Go Jet-Skiing
December 2012
24. Take a sabbatical of (at least) 30 days
February 2013 (LOA)
25. Revamp my wardrobe
26. Host a  5-course dinner party
27. Go to a live taping of a show
2013 Additions
28. Try online dating....and actually go out on a date with someone met on the site.

What are some things you think I should do before I turn 40? Hurry up and tell me, time is ticking!   

UPDATE 11/04/13: Up until today, my list only had 27 things on it and I didn't accomplish these goals before I turned 40. However, I will continue to pursue them and add more until I reach 40 things. Instead of '40 in 40' before I turn 40, they are on my list of '40 in 40' to accomplish during my (estimated 40 more years) Second Act of life...

HOW OLD ARE YOU?!

As I’ve mentioned before, I am often mistaken to be much (at least, 12-15 years) younger than my calendar age of 38 years, 2 months & 19 days.  I attribute it to my ‘baby face,’ soft voice and short height.  It’s funny though because, ever since I was a young girl, my close friends and family have teased me for ‘acting like an old lady.’  I’m often looked at as the mother figure, partly because I’m almost always the eldest (and most mature) one out of the crew and, admittedly, I’m bossy as hell….lol  When I’m with my sisters and friends, I feel like the ‘mother hen’ and behave like one, too (after all, SOMEbody has to keep order don’t they??).  So, it makes me feel good when people are shocked to learn that (a) I’m 38 years old, (b) I’m a mother of a 20 year old and, as of 1/10/11, (c) I’m a GRANDmother.  However, the reality is, my physical appearance is not in sync with the state of my physical health.

According to ‘THE REAL AGE TEST,’ which is a series of questions compiled by doctors and other health professionals, that measure how old your body ‘thinks’ you are, according to your health and self-care, I am 43.3 years old…..WTH?!  I’ve taken this kind of test, at least, 5 times in the last 10 years and every time, my ‘real age’ has been older than my calendar age.  I wish I could remember what the differences were, specifically, so I would have an idea of whether or not I’m closing the gap.  Overall, I feel better than I have in years past so hopefully, I am getting better.  In any case, today, my real age is 5 years older than my calendar age and I must swing that pendulum the other way so that my real age falls somewhere between 27-35…..which means I have work to do!   J

HOW OLD ARE YOU……REALLY???

Take the test and find out, then

I dare you to come back and share your results!

https://www.sharecare.com/static/realage-oz