My 55th Birthday Yearlong Plan

In some stores I can now get a senior citizen discount.

It’s just a number. And yet this number, this year, has got me all worked up.

I’ve never been a woman who was bothered by her age. So it has surprised me that this birthday, my 55^th one, has found me resistant. Sad. Maybe even a little depressed.

After some prayer and lots of thinking I see that I am not satisfied by where I am in life. Some of the dissatisfaction is due to some of my choices (over-weight, no six-pack) and some are due to the consequences of other’s actions (failing stock market, a divorce I didn’t want).

I could go on. But you get the picture. By 55 I thought I’d be in such a different place in so many areas of my life.

This is nooooo way to live. So I came up with a plan.

I am going to do things this year that help me to focus on others, need God’s help to accomplish, and a few things that are just out-of the ordinary fun for me.

My list may change. I may not accomplish all of them. But I will have a different focus by March 12, 2014. So here are some of my ideas.

I want to . . .

One. Collect 55 Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes. I already started this after the collection in 2012. I knew I needed to spread out this project over a whole year because of the financial investment. They are due mid-November.

Two. Raise almost $4,000 so I can go to India July 25- August 10. Our team will (1) put on a conference for 500 women, (2) buy, pack, and distribute shoeboxes (not Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes), and (3) buy 60 sewing machines for four sewing centers.

Three. Practice gratitude 55 times. This could be done in a journal, gratitude letters, or through Friday’s Fave Five. Or???

Four. Move 55 minutes daily. This means that I will walk/exercise this many minutes each day. Right now I walk and exercise 30 minutes a day. I started this because of a bad hip and back. My plan is to be diligent and consistent so I can become fit and more energetic.

Five. Write 55 posts. I do like to write, but I don’t normally give myself permission to take the time to do so. And when I do write, many times I don’t finish it. You should see how many drafts I have in this Wordpress blog.

Six. Create 55 times. That means at least once a week I will engage in something creative. I just feel so much better (emotionally) when I set aside time for this.

Seven. Read 55 books. I was going to read the classics, but decided to read my own books. I am always trying to declutter, but I cannot get rid of my books unless I have read them first. Some I read so long ago that I don’t know why I’ve kept the book.

Eight. Do 55 things from previous bucket lists. I don’t actually know if I have 55 things left to do. But I would really like to experience all the things I’ve previously dreamed up. Plus it is satisfying to cross things off a list.

Nine. Bake 55 pies. Why pies? Who knows? It sounds fun. And tasty. And there are a ton of different types of pies. I don’t plan on eating all of them myself. So you just may get a pie!

That is my list from the sober to the trivial. The first three items (shoeboxes, $ for India, continuos gratitude) will certainly need God’s blessing in order for me to “succeed.”

There are more than likely too many things here for me to accomplish in one year. My daughter certainly thinks so. That’s okay. I really enjoy coming up with ideas. And focusing on these things instead of where I am “not” has got to improve my mental, spiritual, and physical outlook.

 Your Turn . . .

• Have you ever been bothered by a birthday? If yes, why? What did you do to get over it?
• What would you like to accomplish in honour of your birthday this year?
• Please consider helping me buy items for a shoebox or helping me raise $ for India. More information will be posted here soon.
• If I were going to bake a pie for you, what kind would you like?

Related Posts . . . 

• Today is My 50th Birthday
• Chip’s Presence is Strong as I Celebrate Our Birthdays
• I am 54
• Today is my Blogaversary: I’m 2
• Special Days Celebrated on March 12th