Why Act My Age?

Later this year I turn (gulp) 40.  And with this big birthday around the corner, I began thinking that maybe I should start acting my age.

Because here is the thing:  I don’t act my age.  I just don’t.  Mostly because I don’t know how an almost 40-year-old is supposed to act.  Is there a textbook on this or something I can download on my Kindle to explain how to act my age?  No?  Really, no?  Hmmm.  I didn’t think so.

Which brings me to my question, do I really need to act my age?

These are some things I am pondering.  So should an almost 40-year-old:

• Skip or dance down the hallway if no one is around?
• Enjoy a trip to Toys-R-Us as much as my dudes do?
• Sing loudly and poorly and not be embarrassed even in the grocery store?
• Say words like “cool,” “sweet” and “cute” frequently?
• Sport a pony tail frequently?
• Be mesmerized by glittery things (oooh, pretty!)?
• Chew gum and blow bubbles?
• Making up crazy car dances when certain songs come on like Train’s Drive By or Madonna’s Borderline?
• Use hand gestures that resemble those of a 13-year-old drama queen?
• Cry when people are mean to animals in movies?
• Laugh really loud and not care who hears me (Valleygirl96 aka Brainvomit40 knows my laugh travels miles)?
• Go to the midnight showings of all of the Twilight movies and the final two Harry Potter films (and consider dressing up for the latter)?
• Giggle when the word fart or poop is mentioned?
• Jump up and down when I am happy or excited about something?
• Sneak Halloween candy from my dudes?
• Take super silly pictures of random things on my iPhone (wanna see my picture of the rock that cracked my windshield)?
• Screen calls from assorted people (sorry, Mom!)?
• Take almost daily naps after school (thanks to The Captain this can happen!)?
• Continue my text conversation with my brother that contains newly created words like poopalicious, poopapalooza and poopsicle?
• Randomly speak in different accents (my Southern and New Jersey ones are best!)?
• Give silly nicknames to everyone (Sorry again, Crazy Pat, I mean Mom!)?

I guess my final question is what is age appropriate? And who would be the role models of success to tell me and demonstrate the proper age I need to adjust to?  Because if I don’t have any idea, then I am just going to keep doing what I’m doing.  Like speaking in a Yoda voice and saying, “May the Fourth Be With You.”  Because, after all, Star Wars rocks, it is May 4th and I am a kid at heart.

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New Year’s Resolutions are for the Angry Birds Part 2

For the 2012, instead of doing a January 1 resolution, which is totally insane because how can one really commit to a resolution when coming down off of a total booze-filled festival of celebration, a total Christmas cookie sugar rush high?  How can one (me) be realistic about a goal and actually make it happen for the new year?

So this year, I have decided to make some realistic goals instead of solid resolutions.  (No pigs laughing just yet!)

Goal 1: Stick with something.  Anything.  So, if I write a day a week, or actually send out a real card once a month, that is good.  Maybe I will just organize photos, or even just take more pictures.  I might actually learn to play the ukelele I received for Christmas in 2010. I guess I will be more like the little blue birds in Angry Birds.  They can split into threes and do three different tasks, and still be OK even if they aren’t perfect at them.

Goal 2: Try not to eat like it is the Last Supper.  Food will be there and I need to refocus my thinking about it and savor it.  I do not live in a trough nor am I green.  (Oink oink sounds go here).

Goal 3: Give others the feedback that they need.  If I see something good, I need to say something.  I sometimes think, “I will have to let them know,” and then it is six months later and they have moved to Siberia like the white bird who lays an egg but you never see the bird again.  I need to give out lots of helpful eggs.

Goal 4: Get off the land of denial. I am old enough to be able to look at my bank balance, the scale, my closet, etc., and not be in denial.  This is real. It is here and now.  Everything is not a black “bomb” bird.  Nothing will blow up in my face, unless I keep denying things.

Goal 5: Share how much I value and appreciate others.  I think everyone can try to be better on this.  I know I need to be.  I may thank my boss for paying so I can have all of the Angry Bird games on my iPad.  😉

Goal 6: Try to accomplish some of the items on my 40 by 40 list.  Although many are unrealistic, I can try and hit some of them this year.  Maybe with a little bit of the yellow bird’s speed, I can accomplish more than I think.

Goal 7: Be me.  It is OK for me to be the everyday red bird.  People like me for me and I need not change for anyone else.  I am still reliable, trustworthy and fun. Besides, red is my color.

Hmmm.  I think Mark Twain (see yesterday’s post) would be OK with my goal list.  I guess I don’t need that cement mixer just yet.

Me, the red bird. 🙂