Next Level Everything Era

This year, I am turning the big 5-0.

Or, as someone I met recently put it- Level 5.?

Yeah. I like that.?

To be honest, it’s been a pretty big deal for me and not something I’ve easily embraced. It’s hard to wrap my mind around the fact that I am losing some of my youthful elements and there’s nothing I can do about it!?

Not only can I feel my body aging, what with all the aches and pains every time I get up from sitting, but I can SEE the signs, too.?

As time progresses, however, I’ve started to realize what a gift it is because it means I’m still alive, able to be here with and for my family. It also means I get to continue growing in my purpose and impact.

At my age, I feel I have so much more wisdom and clarity than ever before, and that is powerful.

Enough about that though. I’m good-ish with growing older and I feel empowered to step into my new era. There. I said it.?

What I really want to share is the celebration party my daughters and family put together to ring in this new year for me.?

It was, and still is, unbelievable.?

Over the last several months, lots and lots of planning went into creating the most special, love-filled birthday memories I will ever have. Several of my closest friends and family came and spent the weekend with me at a breathtaking property that my daughters and sister arranged and we had so.much.fun!!!

From a scrumptious dinner overlooking the serene ocean to disco ball dancing in the kitchen, we did it all. We laughed, played games, had fun conversations, took lots of pictures, and enjoyed every minute of this time together.?

I can’t get over the dedication of each and every person there. I almost don’t know how to express my gratitude.?

To top it off, my daughters got me the most amazing gift.?

Knowing how much I miss my mom, who passed away twenty years ago, they found a way to bring her to the party.?

You see, many years prior, my sisters and I were able to throw our mom a surprise 50th birthday party, just four years before she left us. She wore this cute black strapless dress with a pink floral embroidery across the front.?

My girls thought it would be special to recreate this for me. They found a black strapless top and a similar (sooooo close to the original) floral embroidery and my daughter hand-stitched it onto the shirt.?

You can imagine my response when I opened it and realized what they had done. For a split second, I thought it was the original.?

Later, as I put the shirt on, I felt the presence and warm embrace of my beloved mom (no exaggeration).

She was there.

Several days later, I’m still floored by the level of thoughtfulness.

Not just by this gift, though.

Everything.?

The house rental, the balloons, all the food, games, drinks, and more.

I’m sitting here thinking “what did I do to deserve this?”

I don’t have the answer to that question, but I can tell you it feels good to be loved.

It drives me to love better than I did before and to do more to show others just how much they mean to me.

This is what life is all about, right??

Showing up for those you love and doing your best to take every opportunity to spend time together while you still have it.?

Yep. I’ll take aging any day. As long as I’m here to share in the love and laughter with my favorite people, I’ll approach this process and gift with grace and immense gratitude.

Barbara Guillen is a writer, author, and speaker who loves to inspire others with her words. To learn more about working with her, visit her website at www.barbaraguillen.com