Forty for 40: #1 - Facebook and Twitter

 It's about 6 months away.  Me turning 40.  I'm really ok with it.  Really.

But it has made me very contemplative lately.  I find myself looking at things differently. Cherishing the little things.  I am incredibly lucky in all the "major" life categories: married to an incredible man who truly could not be a better match for me and is my best friend; raising two beautiful and full-of-life children who have absolutely made our lives complete; living near (exception being my BIL and SIL in CO) all the important people I love most in my family in a city I adore.  I am truly thankful for all I have.

I though it would be fun to think about the little, quirky things I am finding myself thankful for these days.  I'm calling it "Forty for 40:  Small Things I'm Thankful For".  My goal is to get them all done by the BIG 4-0.


I've celebrated "40" with 2 friends this month. Two very dear friends with whom my path to friendship has been very different.  One I've known since we were less than two years old and have been through everything that life has thrown at us in 38 years.  She's the closest thing I have to a sister.  The other is a friend I've known since middle school, who has grown into one of my most favorite friends as an adult.  It got me thinking about my adult friendships. And I know most people think Facebook, Twitter and social media, et al are the decline of human relationships as we know it; on the contrary, I find myself being thankful for them because of the "rekindling" of friendships they've provided.  I have found fantastic adult friendships with people whom I considered casual friends in high school and my younger days.  I love that I can tweet about the Red Carpet with my favorite fashionistas in New York City and Chicago ALMOST like we're sitting in the same room.  I love that I discovered  people, whom I knew as fun teenagers, have become great adults with whom I thoroughly enjoy spending time, sharing ideas, rooting for teams, learning from,  debating, and laughing. And friends that I ADORED in high school, with whom the passage of time inevitably had us drift apart; seeing them again feels like we never skipped a beat. I can honestly say without Facebook and Twitter, I doubt that I would have found these relationships.

I know A LOT of people use these outlets in ways that are very unattractive, petty and "high school-ish".  I cannot imagine being an adolescent right now navigating growing up in the glare of social media.  I'll find out soon enough as Sweet Pea and Monkey reach that age far too quickly for my comfort.  But for now, I'm choosing to find the fun, the good, the positive -  the rest, eh...there's always the "hide from news feed" option.

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