Where the inspiration came from...

Yesterday was my birthday and I turned 40! 

I celebrated the day in an unusual way unlike my friends who had surprise birthday parties.  Leading up to this milestone, I pondered how I would like to live the remainder of my life.  (According to actuary tables women tend to live until they are 82 - so I am short of being half way there!)

 I had intended to go to the movies and out for dinner with my husband and teenage son.  However, through a series of events unfolded in my teenage sons life who returned from Australia jet lagged, I stayed at home while my husband cooked supper for us.

 I always say that people plan and God laughs!

Do I have regrets how the day unfolded...not really.  I was with the people in my life who meant the most to me and in the end I received the best birthday gift after all. 

You see, about 12 days ago my mother was rushed by ambulance to the hospital for shortness of breath and nearly collapsed from low oxygen levels.  At first she was diagnosed with pneumonia and ordered a case of antibiotics.  When she did not respond to that, the doctor thought perhaps it was a blood clot and she endured a large needle in her side to thin her blood.  Still on oxygen then and antibiotics she was not getting any better. After a series of tests, it was revealed that there was a blot located in an x-ray on her lung.  My mother had smoked for 40 years and we feared the worst. 

However, people plan and God laughs!

She was then transferred to a city hospital for a biopsy on her lung and what they found was astonishing...the blot on her lung revealed to be a popcorn kernel lodged between her wind pipe that worked its way into her lung!  The biopsy was done the day before my birthday.  This answered prayer was a wonderful gift to me.

My mother is 67 years old and enjoys life fully and lives youthfully.  What we both took away from this scare as women  that life is short, precious and priceless.  Your body is a temple and its important that we care for it with healthy thoughts, food, exercise and positive and supporting people. Thank goodness she made healthy choices to quit smoking over 10 years ago, eat healthy to loose over 30lbs and attends aqua sizes while she continues to work part-time.

The inspiration of this blog is dedicated to my mother.  She called me on my birthday from the hospital 7AM on August 20, 2010 to wish me happy birthday.  She said that she reflected on my birth from her hospital bed 40 years ago and I am forever grateful she has returned home healthy and well from the hospital on my birthday as a vibrant, loving woman who has blessed me beyond imagination. 

Her and I have come to the conclusion that its important to not only our ourselves, family, friends and community to do our part (whatever it takes) to remain forever young. The outcome of this story could of been very different. 

So, did I really mind my 40th birthday was not celebrated with a usual bang - not really.  It was celebrated better than I could ever imagined. 

I just love how people plan and God laughs!

Please comment on your thoughts, practices and inspiration you engage in that to live well. I will be posting on this blog regularly many topics that will be inspiring, useful and practical tips for those over 40 who are interested in staying FOREVER YOUNG.