A Year’s Journey…….My Rise to Forty

It’s October and much like many of the October’s of the past, my birthday countdown has officially begun.  However; the thing that makes this one unlike any of my birthday celebrations of the past, this October starts the preparation for my 40th birthday, next year.  Yes, you’re reading correctly, I’m both admitting that I am almost forty and I am planning for it already!

Like many others, when birthdays come around, we begin to experience a range of emotions and use this time to look at our lives and with introspection.  I normally schedule all of my annual medical appointments during October, and even had my first mammogram in honor of it being Breast Cancer Awareness month.  Milestone birthdays particularly, bring about all sorts of feelings that are not necessarily good.  Some feel as if they have not accomplished what they may have planned to by this specific point in their lives, while others just don’t like the idea of aging. Frankly; I can identify with both.

This year for me has had very little gray areas, as I have experienced some really great highs and some quite devastating lows, if I can be completely honest.  Coming into 2015, I was determined to set concrete goals; and stick with them.   And I can truly say that I see the results of all of the hard work that’s been put in.  Yet at the same time, this year has been met with some of the hardest personal challenges.  As someone who many look to for encouragement; it has been extremely difficult as I am still trying to sort out and work through these life changes while holding it all together and being being a blessing to others.

It’s funny though how God works considering he’s the knower of all things.  Even before we know it, God’s hand is all in his plan for us according to us living out our purpose and despite it all, I’m clear that; “All things are possible to him who believes” Mark 9:23.  It’s this very scripture that I affirm too many times a day to count which sustains me when I need it most.  I’m human so it just plain ole sucks to have go through it however; I trust and believe that it is for a very specific  reason and that I’m being pruned and prepared for something great, and that I needed to be knocked in the head to be able to receive.

In preparation for whatever is ahead, my year’s journey begins here and now. There are seeds that have been planted that are ready to be sown.  Dreams that have been deferred, relationships that had to die so that new ones could be birthed.  Nearly 39 years of training to acquire the discipline that is needed for my Rise to Forty; Still I Rise!

While friends have already started reaching out to me about “the bday plans” considering I always have something “fun and different” planned.  This year I chose to treat myself to a much needed getaway to begin an overdue soul cleaning. Considering my birthday celebration is about a year-long, I’m sure my girls and I will catch up during my forty new things by 40.  While I must admit, I am not embarking this journey without some trepidation however; I am faithful.

When I think about the significance of the number forty(40) in the bible, I am both encouraged and clear that life is right on target despite its obstacles. Biblically the number 4o means a time of trails and/or testing so, who am I to think that dark times should not happen to me.

So if you will, go with me down memory lane to a few birthday’s past and a lot of in between………..   Spread Love, It’s the BrooKlyn Kisha Way!