Lordy Lordy look who’s 40!

The BIG 4-OH!

40 is the new 30!

The 10th anniversary of my 30th birthday!

That’s right. I’m turning 40. How am I turning 40? I don’t feel 40 (classic line). But I am.

I swear, I will begin blogging/ writing about actual treatments, exams, movement dysfunction and stuff. I’m thinking about these things on a much broader level than I used to, and quite frankly, am organizing my thoughts. I’m at a stage right now where that individual, specific stuff is not at the forefront of my mind. Here are the things that are:

1) Now that I am 40, and have 18 years of clinical experience, I am “old enough” to share a blog, or do a presentation on “what I have learned in my life”

2) Nothing is forever…but there is always an &

3) Just because I wanted something when I was 20, doesn’t mean I still want it, or should want it, now

4) I have been to 24 countries, and Trip Advisor says I have seen 14% of the world. I have a lot more of the world to experience

5) I’ll never know enough to be the clinician I want to be

6) Don’t push too hard against the world…the world always wins

7) I have had the most incredible opportunities, career and experiences in my life, and I can never be thankful enough for them all

8) I have had the most incredible mentors in my life, and I can never be thankful enough to them all

9) I have had the most supportive Mom in my life, and I can never be thankful enough to her

10) Things can change in a heartbeat

11) Even at this stage of my career and life, change is scary

12) I probably drink too much wine

13) I truly believe you can never drink too much wine

14) There is no correct way of treating a patient or working with an athlete or client. If there were a correct way, we’d all be doing it.

15) The art of medicine and movement is bigger than the science, but the science is pretty damn important

16) It doesn’t matter what letters you have after your name or what classes you took with different letters (DNS, PRI, FMS, SFMA, IDN, MAT, ART, AP, VM), everyone agrees on one thing: the area between the shoulders and the hips is important

17) There is no shame in admitting you are tired, or you need time to take a step back. Sometimes a small step back is needed in order to take a giant leap forward

18) I no longer identify or define myself with the title of my job. I am much more than a job

19) Proverbs 31:25 is what I strive for- “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs with no fear of the future”

20) Never give someone an ultimatum. They may choose the thing you don’t want them to

21) People are really brave behind an anonymous Twitter handle or on Facebook

22) No one’s life is as amazing as they make it look on Facebook.

23) No matter who you are, how much experience you have, or how much money you make, when you read over and over on the internet or in the paper that you suck, it hurts. And it’s really hard to look yourself in the mirror and say “I don’t suck”…and believe it

24) There is a lot more to life than work. Up to this point, work has been my life. It’s time to change that

25) Anyone can write a blog.

When I turned 30, I cried all weekend in my house watching Sex In the City reruns. That Monday, I had a Senior PGA tour player tell me this: “when you are in your 20’s, you do stupid things because you don’t know any better. The beauty about being in your 30’s is when you do something stupid, you choose to do something stupid because you know its going to be fun, even though you know better.” Very liberating.

I imagine your 40’s will be like that x 10, with more experience, more wisdom, and more courage. When I turn 40 on Friday, I will be raising a glass to myself, acknowledging the past, looking towards the future, and experiencing the present. And I will probably be making a stupid choice of drinking too much wine even though I have to get on a plane at 8 am the next day. Flying with a hangover is a horrible feeling, but I will choose to do it anyway.

Bring on the next decade!