Preparing for Forty

Preparing for Forty

I mentioned in a past blog that I just turned 37 and the strife I am experiencing starring 40 in the face. I’ve been thinking quite a bit about that number and what it means to me.

In my entry I basically said I wanted that stability and self actualization that many said I would find in my 30’s but thus far have not. Stability and self actualization are not just going to spring up out of the ground and scream “here I am!”  They must be tended to. And like any garden, you start by plotting out what you want it to look like.

You start with what you want to harvest and plant from there.

My Goals For Forty:

1. Own a business.
2. Re-establish our credit
3. Have a rainy day fund of 2 months living expenses
4. Be a healthy weight and be happy with it
5. Meditate daily

So I’m going to break this down into action steps by visiting each of these more indepth.

1. Own a business. I’m taking steps toward this. I guess you could say I do own a business. But in reality, I want something I could potentially pass on to one of my kids or in the end sell and supplement my retirement. Right now my business would sell for about $850 on craigslist. I want something that wakes me each day and calls me to work. I want something that I take home at night because I want to not because I have to. I want something that makes me happy and fulfilled. I’ve decided I will not get that the traditional way. I’m quiet but apparently my spirit is of the entrepreneur type.

2. Re-establish our credit. We did not escape the economic down turn. My husband has been laid off twice since 2008. The first time we had our first baby at home. The second time we had a two year old and 6 month old. Both times cut deep and we got behind. We had to borrow. Our credit took a huge hit. The way to re-establish is to first pay down. Which is what we are trying to do now. The goal as I see it is to have little to no credit card balances and no more than one car loan. It will take time but this goal is possible in the next three years.

3. Have a rainy day fund of 2 months living expenses. This is just good common practice that we have tried on several occasions and always something has come up (or need torn down).

4. Be a healthy weight and BE HAPPY with it. Before my kids I was in my 130’s. Now I am not about to publish my weight now but I am NOT 135. Thing is when I was 135 I was constantly lamenting about how fat I was instead of enjoying being fit and healthy. Right now all those scores you get during a routine physical are good except for my weight and those will eventually follow. I need to lose not just for the energy but for the health benefits. However, I also need to learn to be happy in this skin.

5. Meditate daily. That one is the easiest and hardest at the same time. I just need to sit down and breathe. How hard can that be?  Seriously try it and find out.

So there it is. My path to forty. The first stepping stones are laid. The first pass with the tiller has happened. The soil is ready to go.  

I plan on doing monthly updates on these goals as one of the blogs each month. They will be tagged under “Preparing for forty”.