2 Days ’til 40: 40 Favorite Posts from My 400 Days ’til 40 Journey

I must say that it was much easier to choose 40 photos than to choose 40 posts!  One of the fun things about this particular journey is that I allowed myself to write (or post photos) about whatever I felt on any particular day.  As a result, I have a wide array of followers who each connect in different ways to what I write – this has been amazing.  I imagine that in the future, as I become a bit more focused, I may have a less diverse group of readers, though I hope not!

Here is my top 40 list of posts, hopefully as eclectic as my readers are.  Some I chose because of the importance of the content, some because they make me laugh (yes, I realize that I have a weird sense of humor that others do not always appreciate) and some because I like the way the words flow.

 

4 Days ’til 40: Today in Photos

 

5 Days ’til 40: Losing my Necklace (Or Maybe My Sanity?)

 

Well, when you get old senility sets in first, right?  Apparently as I run this final stretch towards 40 it is all going downhill!!!

 

6 Days ’til 40: Delicious Delicacies

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day and my partner and I had a wonderful dinner in a nice restaurant, something we do not normally do because we are very budget conscious.  It was such a lovely experience and I am so glad we went out.  We had a delicious meal and the atmosphere was pleasant and there were no kids – we were in heaven.

Yet, as I looked around the restaurant, something saddened me.  I realized that many people, even on a special occasion like Valentine’s Day, struggle with whether to go for a diet dinner or a delicious delicacy.  Where is the balance in the equation?

 

8 Days ’til 40: Why Can’t I Win the Lottery??!!?? :(

Yesterday I did not get something I wanted.  My initial gut-level reaction was to launch into a full-fledged pity party, complete with pouting and sulking.  WHY CAN’T I WIN THE LOTTERY???  SOMEONE has to win it, why is that someone ALWAYS someone else and never me???  (And no, it has nothing to do with the fact that I rarely buy tickets, because rarely is not never, it is just not often).  Recently I bought a lottery ticket and I was very disappointed that I did not win.  In fact, I may have even been a tad depressed that I did not win…..  I really, really, REALLY WANTED to win (note, a want is very different from a NEED).

 

9 Days ’til 40: I Am My Own Cheerleader

 

Okay, so maybe I am not – but I should be.  This is a concept that has been more clearly solidified for me during my past year of blogging.  External encouragement feels great, but it is the internal motivation and self-encouragement and self-inspiration that are critical to life’s journey.

Fall seven times, stand up eight. ~ Japanese Proverb

Instead of giving myself reasons why I can’t, I give myself reasons why I can. ~ Author Unknown

 

15 Days ’til 40: Pretentious Perfume

I ran out of perfume a few days ago and needed to find something new.  The perfume I have worn for years (okay, the last decade) can only be purchased in certain places that are not close to my home, so I set out to find something new – I figure it was about time.  The last time I changed perfumes was before I became a parent… my oldest is now 11.  Finding a perfume was harder than I thought it would be – there were so many choices, many of which made me gag.  I like a perfume that will not hang out in an elevator after I get out of it – something that can be smelled slightly, but is not overpowering and nauseating.  Being that I am not the type of person that is normally drawn to name brand items, I must admit that I was a bit surprised with where my perfume procuring journey landed me.  Yes, the perfume I liked the most (or tolerated the best) was made by Prada.  I definitely do NOT consider myself a Prada girl.  As if to add insult to the injury my ego had been caused by my pull towards Prada, the perfume itself was called “Candy”.  What sensible professional sprays themselves every morning before work with something called “Candy”???  Apparently, now I do.

 

21 Days ’til 40: Simple Joys and Illusions

A thing of beauty is a joy forever; its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness. ~ John Keats

 

23 Days ’til 40: My Bike and I (AKA Exercise Relationships)

Life is like riding a bicycle.  To keep your balance you must keep moving.              ~ Albert Einstein

 

39 Days ’til 40: Damaged, but Capable

 

I was slightly brain-damaged at birth, and I want people like me to see that they shouldn’t let a disability get in the way.  I want to raise awareness – I want to turn my disability into ability. ~ Susan Boyle

Everybody’s damaged by something. ~ Emma Donoghue

Most people tend to think the best of those who are blessed with beauty; we have difficulty imagining that physical perfection can conceal twisted emotions or a damaged mind. ~ Dean Koontz

If we all did the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves. ~ Thomas A. Edison

If you plan on being anything less than you are capable of being, you will probably be unhappy all the days of your life. ~ Abraham Maslow

Ability is what you’re capable of doing.  Motivation determines what you do.  Attitude determines how well you do it. ~ Raymond Chandler

Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming. ~ John Wooden

The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems. ~ Mahatma Gandhi