Miss Vicky's Offhand Remarks

1968

No, this isn't a post about boomer nostalgia, the anniversary of the Prague Spring, the assassination of Martin Luther King or Bobby Kennedy or blah blah blah. Nope.

1968 just happens to be the year Miss Vicky entered the world. Yup, I turned 40 last month. Fortunately, I'm in good company, as a couple of dear friends are also hitting the milestone this year. So we have decided to let this be the Year that Shall Not Be Wasted. We're looking after ourselves - physically, emotionally - and we're looking after each other. We're setting new goals and trying new things. Most of all, we've pledged to do at least one FUN thing every month, preferably together.

More on this in a bit... first the obligatory "holy crap I'm 40!" reflection.

Turning 40 has been a lot less traumatic than I thought it might be.... certainly a far cry better than my 30th birthday, when I was between jobs and dealing with a major career shift, single, childless, even petless... not living the life I had been led to believe I should be leading at that age. It was a little rough, I must admit. Flash forward 10 years and so much has changed. I have a heck of a lot to be thankful for - so many sources of pride, satisfaction and joy. I have a great career and a fulfilling volunteer life. I have a house I love in a wonderful neighbourhood. I have an amazing family, a partner I cherish and who cherishes me, and an incredible little boy. I have a lot of supportive friends, people who make me laugh every day. Then there is this blog thing....

I think I've had a little bit of an impact on my community, my city, on public discourse. I've written policy, led nation-wide consultations, done interesting research, organized campaigns, even had opportunities to be a political pundit. I've fought for more causes than I can begin to list, some global and some local (some very, very local).

I haven't always treated myself very well, though. Vacations have usually been tacked on to conferences and work trips. I haven't traveled for the sake of traveling in years. I don't make time to exercise and I don't always eat healthy. So, many of my objectives for the year have to do with addressing this self-neglect.

Enter this small group of 1968 babies (and a few other friends who are along for the ride). The rules of the year are simple. Set new goals. Try new things. Do something fun at least once a month. Do something special on your birthday. Treat yourself.

My birthday was January 10 so I pretty much kicked things off with my celebration. The Webgeek organized a great party at the Urban Element, featuring great music, amazing food from the Wellington Gastropub, Jak's Kitchen and of course the Urban Element, who did a live risotto-tasting. And Beau's, of course. And plenty of friends and family. It was pretty great.

Fabulous 40-year-old number 2 had her day a couple of weeks later and celebrated with an afternoon of capture-the-flag in Strathcona Park, followed by chili, hot chocolate and other festivities. January was capped with the High School Do-Over Party (see pic below). This month we're hitting Spa Nordik and hopefully doing a nighttime ski and fondue in the Gatineaus. Later plans include things like whitewater rafting, a visit to Bonnechere Caverns, dance classes and who knows what else (suggestions are welcome!). The grand finale will be Cuba in December. I'm excited. And a little nervous.

I am still working out my priorities and goals for the year, but I have set one big one - I'm training for a triathlon. Not a full-on tri (that would be a bit much), but a nice, gentle try-a-tri. Maybe the Riverkeeper Triathlon in June, if I'm ready. I'll be blogging more about this in the coming weeks and months. But I figured I'd share my goal with the internets now... maybe you'll help hold me accountable!

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