Birthdays are the best holidays. Milestone birthdays even more so. Since the second anniversary of turning the big 4-0 is fast approaching, now seems an appropriate time to share my 4 for 40 birthday celebration plan, and why I recommend it for your next big milestone.
Inspired by my friend Erin 15+ years ago, I created the ambitious 30-Before-30 Challenge: a list of 30 things I had to do before turning 30, culminating – of course – in a kickass 30th birthday party. I enjoyed most of the adventures on the list, and the things I did not so much enjoy allowed me to learn about myself. For example, it turns out that expressing emotions is a strength (who knew?) and that while I like riding a bike, I have no desire to ride 100 miles in a day. Turns out I am not so much of a hardass after all.
Since I am now the owner of two children, and, you know, the pandemic happened, I opted to pick just four things to celebrate my 40th trip around the sun. Thus the 4 for 40 birthday celebration was born!
The 4 for 40 Birthday Celebration Plan
- Go skydiving (I love it so much)
- Ski a volcano
- Take a trip without my kids (for the first time since making two humans with my own body)
- Throw a 40th birthday dance party
I gave myself 1-year to complete said challenge – the six months preceding and following my birthday. Why jam all of the fun into a single day, or even a single month, amirite?
The 4 for 40 Birthday Celebration Reality
Well, things did not go as planned. Skydiving never happened, primarily due to a lack of coordination on my part but also because weather. I did get to take a trip without my kids (shout out ski ladies!), ski a volcano, and throw a big 40th dance party. And, bonus, my spouse threw me a surprise 80-themed roller skating party. I even won a rink race! (Shoutout to Skate Palace in Bozeman.)
Double bonus is that I took my youngest on a trip to the homeland for a quick visit with my family. Fun fact: I was born on Mother’s Day, so it’s always been a special time for me and my Maaam. Whenever we can spend Mother’s Day together, it’s extra special, doubly-so now that I am also a mom.
It started to seem like this 4 for 40 birthday celebration wanted to balloon into a full on 40-For-40 list when I also had a surprise visit from my oldest friend (he’s not old, our friendship is) for the aforementioned dance party. Then, two of my favorite Californian’s came to visit: my GrandBob and college bestie Allison. Not to be outdone, my ski wife took me for a birthday ski where we high-centered the car and spent the first hour digging it out with our avalanche shovels. I am not joking when I say that I cannot think of a better way to ring in a new decade.
Your # for ## Birthday Celebration
You are a remarkable human being. You deserve to be celebrated; and celebrated in the way that you want. That’s why you should mark your next big milestone birthday with an # for ## celebration. Maybe it’s 5 for 50, or 7.5 for 75. The world is your oyster my friend.
I am a big, bold person who likes loud colors and costumes and general tomfoolery. But don’t let that scare you off. For your next big birthday, pick [insert appropriate number] things you’d like to do and make them happen. Maybe you splurge for a massage, a new book, or a quiet dinner with friends. Maybe you set a goal to get ten Wordles in a row in under four guesses (impossible, if you ask me). Maybe you finally tackle your messy nightstand, not that that’s been on the honey-do-list for years or anything…
Whatever it is, do it because it makes you feel good. Holidays are meant to be celebrated. Your birthday most of all.
(A quick related PSA: on your birthday, you should get a gift for your mom. She worked really hard to make you.)
It’s been a minute since I’ve written an irreverent blog, as I’ve been focusing on my thriving communications consulting business (yay!). If you liked this, can you take a few minutes to leave a comment and let me know? Your suggestions help me sort out what to write next. For example, do you want to hear how ski-wife and I skied from the summit of Mt. Baker, despite both of us giving ourselves 0% chance of making the summit the day before? Or do you want to hear about the many surprising hats I get to wear as a consultant? Both? Neither? Something else? Let me know! You’re the best!
