On turning 43

43 is no great shakes as far as birthdays go. Excitement about birthdays has long since passed. It is not a decade nor a "fiver" birthday. It is even far enough past 40 and far enough before 45 as to be entirely unremarkable. None the less, it has been good to me.

Since I am 43 I have decided to just go with it and be me. Here are a few things I have decided to be comfortable with about myself.

I am a slob. I do not put things away as I go. I do not keep my desk neat. I do not clean my house. I do occasionally reset and straighten up my surroundings, but that is not the same as being neat. It is a real effort to me. The only way I can be neat is to not have things around me.

I am not a planner. I have spent a lot of time trying to convince myself that I am a planner but it simply is not true. Not only do I suck at it, but most of the plans I make are not realized and I am OK with that.

The best things that have happened in my life have been happy accidents. Berea College-check. Elementary Education Degree-check. Working in a preschool after college-check. Meeting Paige at that same preschool-check. All of those things happened based on accidents and being open to the moment. I am also OK with that.

I like people and, for the most part, people like me. Especially little kids. I am not really sure why, but I am happy about it.

I hate theory. I like reality. I deal well with it most of the time.

I am, generally, an optimist. But, when I get negative, it can be pretty overwhelming.

I like working on teams, but I don't have a natural interest in being a leader. I am content with being a contributor.

I like making people happy. It is probably my favorite thing to do.

I hate long term projects. Give me a tight deadline for the end of the day and I flourish. Give me a month long project and I am worrying today.

I can be pretty course in language and action. I try to be aware of others sensitivities, but sometimes I just have to let it all hang out.

It is much easier to hurt my feelings that I am comfortable admitting.

I wish the party would never stop. Well, at least not until I am tired.

I think you get one big go around and you should make the most of it.

I like working on my motorcycles and bicycles as much as I like riding them.

Foresight is not one of my strengths. It is the downside to the whole "living-in-the-moment" thing.