Namaste

Ok, so there's hasn't been that much going on over the last few weeks. Life has kind of stood still since puppy has come along. I'm happy to say that we've made the necessary progress to get on with our normal everyday life, except this normal now involves a pooper scooper! This new normal has given me a new perspective on life and the joy of a having a dog that I never fully understood until this little creature came along.

So now that we are ok to get on with everyday life, it's the final Harry Potter movie for my 14 year old daughter, her friend and I tonight. This, even for this 39 year old, is HUGE! Mr. Potter and the gang have been part of our lives since my eldest was 6. My husband and I read the books with her, saw the movies in the cinema and bought all the movies at Christmas as they came out on DVD. They became a Christmas tradition in our house, and will probably always be. The final movie is the end of an era. Seems like a theme this week....

In Ireland we are behind on American television. Over the last few days, the last few Oprah's were aired on Irish television and this marks the end of an era for me. In 1986, when Oprah started, I was 14. Perfect age to be interested in watching her show. From then on, I never let go and I definitely grew up with her. What a privilege. She was there everyday like the mother I didn't have as a teenager and a growing woman. It may well be the end of an era but, in true Oprah style, I choose to view it as a new beginning. I've grown up, I've sorted through most of my issues and I have the skills to do it on my own. Thanks Oprah!

No sadness, just anticipation. If life can give us Oprah and JK Rowling and if we, as a people, strive to continuously improve, than I am happy to wait for whatever new marvels lay ahead. In the meantime, I stand still in this moment.

Namaste.

Hope you're excited too!

What a week it's been! Yes, the never say never has once again been fully applied to my life. If you would have told me five months ago that I'd be getting a dog soon, I would have rolled around the floor laughing in hysterics. Ok, so now I'm not laughing but I am loving this new experience!

My little puppy boy is 8 weeks old and he is hard work, but also a little bundle of joy. It's kind of like having a baby in the house. He's smart, inquisitive and very good, for the most part. He of course has a lot to learn, but he seems to be learning quickly.

I've seen more of my 14 year old in the last week than I have in the last month. Somehow her room is not as appealing as being downstairs with us and our new edition. My 6 year old's nose is a little bit out of joint but she does loves him dearly. He's inadvertently teaching her that you can't always be the centre of attention and that has to be a good lesson to learn early on in life.

I have to say I did a lot of research before getting the dog so that I'd know what to expect and also to give him the best start in his life. It's paid off and I am really enjoying this new experience. Again, here I am at 39 years of age making this big deal about turning 40 in my head - so much so that I felt compelled to blog about it, as you well know. The surprise is that I've learnt a hell of a lot in the last 5 months, I've had a lot of new experiences that I would never have believed would be part of my life, and my understanding of life seems to come a lot easier than it ever has. If this is in fact an indication of what the future holds than I am really excited about it!

Hope you're excited too!

Told you so!

Ever say something to someone and get a reaction that makes you go 'hmm, there's something not right here' but you can't put your finger on it? Then a few days later someone tells you something relevant to that person and a whole bunch of pennies drop? We all know that instance where your gut told you before your brain could process it, right? It happens all the time throughout our lives. I've always had it, just like everyone else, but never really knew how to recognise it or use it. In fact, I would go as far as saying that I was pretty dense when it came to using that 'sixth sense' and, as a result, it got me in a lot of sticky situations where blind trust was given and where my gut feeling was utterly ignored... but no more. 

Now I'm aware and I'm looking for it. This may make for a quieter me, if that's at all possible, and even a me who stands back and observes as opposed to jumping in feet first. Isn't that just amazing? It's like I've opened up a  gift that was always there but was always slightly out of my peripheral vision. It's just another thing that I marvel in now. First it was how life always works everything out and now, not only can I trust life, but I can trust my own intuition. It's like I've had eyes all my life, but only decided to open them at the age of 39.

So from now on when I get that feeling, I'll know, it's just a matter of time before all is revealed....and when it is, I'll say to myself: 'Told you so!'

Time to face facts!

My hair has started to agree with my age and I am currently waiting to see how my patch test pans out. Yes, I bought a hair colour. In the past week I have found so many white hairs that if I pulled them all out I'd have a thinning problem. I have mentioned before that I've never really died my hair before, except during the teenage angst phase and let's face it, that's a different story! I was always happy with my own hair colour and would always get compliments about it. Even now, you need to look up close to realise that the discoloured hairs are white and not blond. I could get away with it for a while longer, but I don't want to wait until its so obvious that my hair colour is being discussed by all and sundry.

So I guess the real question is how do I feel about it? Well not as bad as I thought, but now the dying and maintenance begins. Luckily my eldest is a fashion and beauty lover and she has my back. Tomorrow is the big 'dying my hair day' and according to my beauty expert it's a great thing - the shine off my hair will be fab!

The bottom line for me is that I'm less than thrilled about having to dye my hair as it is a very real reminder that I'm ageing. On the other hand, what's the big deal? Everybody is ageing! In fact, anyone who is smug about their youth will only have a harder landing when they catch up. That's the only fair thing in life - those who are allowed to, will in fact age. What is unfair is those who don't get the opportunity to do so. In fact, in all cases, its more than unfair, it's tragic.

So with that in mind, I say 'bring it on'....