THE BIG ONE: TURNING 40

So it happened. I turned 40 yesterday!

This trip was in part planned around that fact. Lots of change occurred in my life in 2006 and I thought there’d be no better way to end my year, and to honor the passing of this milestone birthday then to be on this cross-country adventure.

When I was 33 and still working at my old company, Digitas, I imagined taking 35 workdays off for my 35th birthday. That would equate to a total of seven weeks off and I planned it for the summertime -- with both time in Provincetown and time abroad. Well at 34 I started my own company and left Digitas and for the last seven years I have hardly had the time to think let alone take off seven weeks! For the first five years I took 4-day weekends, and an occasional wed/wed week off. It wasn’t until my sixth year with CBDESIGN that I finally got a two-week vacation!

So preparing this summer for slowing down the project schedule to allow for my travel has been a blessing. I’m working approximately 7-10 hours a week (OK so I’m not off completely) but it keeps the projects traffic flow moving and some spare change coming in the door to allow me to get from place to place. In addition, I’ve done some odd jobs here and there to make extra money. (Cleaning toilets in Hudson, NY will be one of the memories I cherish as I humbly look back at where I was at 39 years old in the fall of 06!)

Approaching 40 didn’t faze me at all. Ok, ok, on my online profiles for the last 2 years I've said that I’m still 38, but apart from that I haven’t worried about the turning 40 thing. After all 40 is the new 30 so what's the big deal, right?

It did feel different yesterday morning though I must admit. Like I’m now a part of some club. I crossed a line. But I hardly feel like I’m mid-life. With all the changes in 2006 I’m looking forward more than ever to rebuilding my life from scratch and seeing where 2007 takes me.

I have so much to be grateful for. Loving friends (see pic of my friend Keith and I at lunch in Dallas yesterday...), a healthy family, and a handsome boyfriend who I’ve come to love dearly. My loving cat. My health. My sobriety. And the luxury of this time, to consider where I want to be in 2007 -- geographically, spiritually, mentally, financially.

It’s one big adventure. And I’m ready for it. I’m doing a lot of footwork to put closure, where needed, on the last several years of my life. Equally I’m taking the time to consider what and who I want to be in this next phase of my life. Where I want to live. Who I want to spend time with. What is most important to me.

Reassessment.

Will I move to a warm climate? I think I’ll learn to play the guitar. I’d like to live on less and travel more. I’d like to work for a nonprofit -- making a substantive contribution thru marketing that consumer branding can’t impact. I’d like to have the screws in my ankle taken out. I’d like to get back into yoga. Maybe I could finally learn to be on time.

Overall I think living a healthy, sober, yet fun filled life full of peace, prosperity, joy and love will always be my main goal. I continue to strive for this today, as I did yesterday, and the day before. All I can do is try to do my best, and learn from my mistakes. And love as deeply as I possibly can on any given day.

With that, thanks to all my friends and their wonderful birthday wishes.

Signed, Christopher at 40