Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Being 40: Time Heals

"Time heals all wounds." There are many variations of the phrase but it was first mentioned by a Greek dramatist around 300BC. He phrased it as "time is the healer of all necessary evils." When you look at it that way the meaning is much more powerful.

I believe we are to endure certain things in life--necessary evils, perhaps-- to help us become who we are intended to be. I believe that the test comes not in the midst of those evils but in how we come through them and get on with life. And I know that it all makes you stronger if you let it.

Sara Evans has a new song out called "A Little Bit Stronger." When I first heard the song, I had two thoughts. The first was that Missouri makes awesome singers. The second was that I knew exactly what it was like to be in a place where you have to wake up every single day, take joy in tiny bits of progress and recognize the moments when you are stronger than you were the day before. Every time I hear the song I think about how far I've come from breakups and losses and tragedies in my life. And, how, even now, I'm a little stronger every day. I don't think that time heals all wounds. But I do think that time heals. And that we all have the opportunity to find strength in adversity.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Being 40: Express Yourself

Being expressive has gotten me in a lot of trouble over the years. Some people think I don't know when to keep my mouth shut. Others say I should just let some things go.

But the people who really know me and the people who really love me know that my expressiveness comes from a good place.  I am a deeply feeling person. I feel strongly and powerfully whether the emotion is joy or sadness or shock or surprise. I love to laugh and sometimes I need a good cry. It helps trust me. I do not supress anything and when I try, I feel lke I might implode. 

Today, my friend Mark of brackenphoto, dropped off a dvd full of pictures from my 40th birthday. I love them even though my double chin made a prominent appearance in some of them. I love them because they are mostly candid shots of people that I adore who were having a good time. And I love them because they captured the essence of me. It's a me that I think many people don't stick around long enough to know or just don't care to take the time to know. It's a me who some people embrace and who others can't understand.

If there's one thing I know how to do, it's express myself! And so does my double chin!


Sunday, March 06, 2011

Being 40: One Week Down, 51 To Go!

I'm ba-ack!

Welcome to all of you who have been following the days that lead up to my 40th birhtday. It seems that learning what it means to be 40 is going to take a while. So we are going to spend the next 51 weeks right here, talking about it and talking about life in general and maybe music and food and I'm sure we'll talk about men because I love men.

Until we get started, here are some of my favorite entries that will help you feel at home!

http://michelesingsit.blogspot.com/2009/04/2-12-is-normal.html
http://michelesingsit.blogspot.com/2006/06/men-are-like-cake.html

http://michelesingsit.blogspot.com/2006/02/last-day-on-earth.html
http://michelesingsit.blogspot.com/2008/05/we-have-heart-for-you.html
http://michelesingsit.blogspot.com/2007/11/never-give-up.html

Thanks for being here!