This Is 40.

On Friday, I had my 40th birthday.

People are always surprised when I tell them that.  They tell me I "look much younger than 40," that I "look 20-something," and so on.  And while all this is extremely flattering, I'd like to respectfully disagree.

Because as far as I'm concerned, this is what 40 looks like.

40 is strong and healthy.  40 is energetic and lives life to the fullest.  40 is not "too old" to aspire to a triple bodyweight deadlift, to embark on new adventures, to grab the world by the tail.  And neither, for that matter, is 50, or 80, or 200.

I've experienced a lot of losses this year, including a big one on my birthday (I had to put my sweet baby, my 19 year old cat, to sleep after a long and ferocious battle with renal failure).  And if there's anything I've learned from this it's that life is short and beautiful, and there are no guarantees.  Moping around the house making excuses for yourself gets you nowhere, brings no one back, and solves none of your problems.  So be who you want to be, live how you want to live, take care of the body you've been given so that it will cooperate with your choices, and don't let your age dictate one thing. 

And so I will continue to lift heavy things, eat great healthy food, travel, appreciate my loved ones, sing in my bands, chase my passions.  I will take all intriguing opportunities that come my way and make the most of my time on this planet. 

Because this is 40.

And it is going to be epic.