I am trying to keep it positive this birthday. Although I could very well call this year “40 Eve,” I prefer to call it “Be kind at 39.”

(FYI, I have named/branded my last handful of ages as I have climbed into my late thirties. I won’t recap the past monikers here, but you can view them by tapping on previous birthday posts below.).

After some age anxiety in my mid-to-late twenties, I have lived my thirties with relative contentment as the candles on my birthday cake grew more plentiful. However, as the big 4-0 is now on deck, I don’t know how I feel about turning 39 today.

Perhaps I am just starting the coping process early so next year when I turn 40 it won’t be such a bummer. Those are truly the honest thoughts of your nearly middle-aged blogger 😉.

But enough about my advancing age! No matter how old someone turns, a birthday is more than just a glum indicator of how old you are—it is also a celebration of being alive. And although I gave you a very truthful account of how I feel with 40 on the horizon, I feel extremely blessed to still be alive and kicking. In fact, “kicking” is an understatement because even though I am almost over the hill, I feel fantastic!

I experienced some age anxiety as I approached my 39th birthday but I probably had the best birthday of my thirties today.

I am also very blessed. No matter whether I am 29, 39, or 49, I am grateful to have a fabulous wife and two doting children who I adore. Add a terrific job, supportive parents/siblings, and a strong faith to the equation and it all makes the birthday cake much easier to swallow.

Speaking of birthday cake, I swallowed a lot of it tonight. Sidney made her world-famous candy bar cake and it was so delicious. That was all prefaced by a pizza party at the house and at work this morning my colleagues hosted a muffin breakfast in my honor.

I celebrated my birthday tonight with my wife, kids, and parents.

So thankfully, the initial sting of turning 39 is starting to lessen. After all, age truly is just a number and something far greater (or worse) awaits everyone despite the tallies they have in their age box. Thanks to everyone for an awesome birthday and I will be sure to soak up the conclusion of my thirties while trying my best to be kind. Don’t Blink.

Past Birthday Posts
Turning 38
Turning 37
Turning 36
Turning 35
Turning 34
Turning 33
Turning 32
Turning 31
Turning 30