Half century mumblings

As I hurtle through the past few weeks of my 40s, it occurs to me that I’m supposed to have grown up and found myself by now.

In some ways, I have – I’m in a settled, long-term relationship, I’ve raised my contribution to the next generation, I’ve achieved a few things in my career, I’ve made some fabulous friends, and I’m probably more comfortable in my own skin than I ever was.

In other ways… not at all!
As I've got older, I've become more of a rebel now than I ever was growing up in provincial middle class England (at this rate, I’ll have a half-shaved head and green eyebrows by the time I hit 70).

Anyway, just for the sheer hell of it, I decided to draw up some lists to remind myself of 50 of the things that have got me this far (and a few of those that I still want to tick off before surrendering to  middle age, the menopause, or whatever else is lurking around the corner).

Things I’m glad I’ve become before I slamming into my 50s:

1)      A redhead

2)      Bilingual

3)      A Humanist

4)      More open-minded

5)      Fit(ter than I was)

6)      Owl-obsessive

7)      An unapologetic man-loving feminist

Things I reckon I’ve always been:

8)      Loud

9)      Clumsy

10)   Passionate

11)   Opinionated

12)   Unexpectedly introvert

13)   In a hurry

14)   An unashamed idealist

15)   The butt of people’s jokes

16)   Slightly nerdy

Things that make my life better:

17)   Tea

18)   Friends

19)   Loud music

20)   Laughter

21)   Books

22)   The Internet

23)   Cheese

24)   Eyeliner

25)   The Mr

26)   The ManChild

27)   Red lipstick

28)   Red wine

29)   A mother who’s also a great friend and inspiration

Things I’ve never regretted:

30)   Speaking my mind

31)   Believing most people are fundamentally good, kind and decent.

32)   Falling in love, head first.

33)   Every book I’ve ever read - even the bad ones, the ones that make me say "If this crap can get published, why the hell can't I?".

34)   Marrying my best friend.

35)   Moving to Greece and making my life here.

36)   Becoming a mother….   once.

Quotes

37)   “Say what you mean, and mean what you say.” – me.

38)   “The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.” – Dorothy Parker.

39)   “I love deadlines. I love the whooshing sound they make as they fly past.” – Douglas Adams.

40)   “I can resist anything but temptation.” – Oscar Wilde.

41)   “Be the change you want to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi

42)   “Laughter is an enema for the soul.” – Robin Williams

Things I promise to keep doing:

43)   Being me

44)   Loving life

45)   Exercising regularly

46)   Seeking out interesting people – even if I have little or nothing in common with them

Things still left to do:

47)   Swim with dolphins

48)   Watch the Aurora Borealis

49)   Hug a koala

50)   Write that damn book I know is inside me

Have I missed anything out?