Despite my advanced age, I only recently realized that it’s not after a birthday that you live the year, it’s before. In Spanish this is clear – you cumplir (complete) 39 años, rather than turning 39 years old.

It’s my birthday, and here I am, today I complete 39 years, and begin my 40th year of life!

I just finished reading When, by Daniel Pink. One of the interesting tidbits included were statistics describing how people are much more likely to attempt something epic when they are 29, 39, 49, 59, etc. We are more likely to undertake a big scary project on years ending in 9 than we are during the years before or after. The looming deadline birthdays of 30, 40, 50, 60 make us eager to tick things off the bucket list!

Well, I absolutely love new beginnings, and beginning new projects. As I love starting projects much more than finishing them, I have grand respect for a good deadline. Without deadlines, I think I’d struggle to finish even the smallest of things.

This year, I’m going to write. I will publish at least a few words to this blog each and every day of my 40th year; starting today!