Nine (9) Thoughts on Turning 39-Years-Old

Thirty-nine (39) is just shy of four decades.

I’m proud to share that I’ll turn 39-years-old on March 26^th of 2019.

Nine (9) thoughts on turning 39 are discussed below. These thoughts include: assertiveness, career, confidence, family, friends, gratitude, health & wellness, perspective, and wisdom.

 

1. Assertiveness

   Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it. Maya Angelou

Assertiveness was something I lacked in my youth. I was quiet, introverted, and passive. I thought I was being nice by keeping quiet and not “rocking the boat.” During my earlier 20s, I’d always say “yes,” to requests, which often overbooked me and stressed me out. I’ve became more assertive over the years. I say “no” to requests that I’m just not interested in doing. I now ask for what I want (even if I might get a no answer). I go for it anyway. I think assertiveness has come with experiences.

 

2. Career

   The way to get it done is to quit talking and being doing. Walt Disney

Working in my profession today meaningful. I believe I’m making the difference. I’ve been at our hospital longer than anywhere else. I was in public school from Kindergarten to 12^th grade (13 years). I’ve been at the hospital for 17 years. I’ve almost worked there half of my life (17 years out of 39) is about 44%. I imagine eventually, I will have worked at the hospital over the majority of my life. I have plans to continue doing what I do now. It is a good fit. The 39-year-old Danny is more skilled, trained, experienced compared to the young 19-year-old me (Danny) who discovered Recreational Therapy in 1999.

 

3. Confidence

   Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. Marianne Williamson

Confidence has definitely increased. I’m a lot more confident at 39 compared to 9, 19, or 29. I believe more in myself. This could come with years and age. I earned one master’s degree before 29. I earned my second master’s degree after 29. The second degree was more intense and more focused. I feel a strange increase in confidence today.

 

4. Family

   Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear. Leo Buscaglia

Family changes. I had grandparents when I discovered recreational therapy in 1999. My parents are still alive and I’m very fortunate for that. They are my friends these days. All of my grandparents have passed since the early 2000s. I now have a total of 5 nieces and nephews. I love all of them. My family has been a source of rain and sun that has helped me to grow into who I am today. I’m very fortunate to have my family.

 

 

5. Friends

   Remember, no man is a failure who has friends, It’s A Wonderful Life

Friendship last forever (or at least that is what I beleive). There is always a place in my heart for friends who I don’t see as much now. I am thankful for facebook keeping me in touch with friends who I don’t see as much now. Being an introvert in nature, I don’t go out as much and do extroverting activities with others. I enjoy calmness and quietness of a coffee shop, bookstore, or enjoying a movie over a wild party. I choose my acquaintances carefully now.

 

6. Gratitude

   Gratitude is absolutely the way to bring more into your life. Marci Shimoff

Gratitude is one of the best ways to feel happy. My gratitude has grown over the years. During my teenage years, I had a negative attitude. I’ve outgrown that like a caterpillar who turned into a butterfly. Ungratefulness attracts more of the same. It keeps a person in caterpillar mode. Gratitude helps us to grow our wrings and fly higher. I’m very grateful even for the bad event that I’ve experienced. The bad has helped me to grow and mature.

 

 

7. Health and Wellness

   Do something today that your future self will thank you for

Health and wellness are important for happiness. I’m grateful for my own health, my parent’s health, my sibling’s health, and their families and kids health. I’m self-aware of my own aging. Age is a lot like the seasons of the year. Things are born in the spring. They achieve fullness in summer. They’re ripe and ready during the fall and then they start to die in the winter. I believe I’m in the summer years of my life, which are great!  It is cliché’ – what we plant now, we harvest later. Yesterday was the best day to start improving health and wellness. Today is the second best day. Work now by eating healthy and exercising so I can reap the benefits of an abundance of good health during the autumn of my life that can last through my winter years.

 

8. Perspective

   The smallest change in perspective can transform a life. What a tiny attitude adjustment might turn your world around? Oprah

Perspective changes from your view. Viewing things at 39 are different from my youth (9, 19, and 29). It will be different from (49, 59, and 69) if I’m lucky to live that long. I do think my perspective now is a lot better compared to 9 and 19. I’m more introspective. I’m more cautious in ways too. I look at things a little bit differently now.

 

 

9. Wisdom

   The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing. Socrates

Wisdom comes with age and experiences. Of course, some people are wise beyond their years.  I think a secret to becoming wise at an earlier age is by reading the biographies and autobiographies of older, more successful people. They share their life wisdom and experiences in their writings. However, there have been times in my life when I simply had to learn a lesson on my own. In example: driving at 2 a.m. in a college town on a holiday party night is a bad idea. I knew it was a bad idea to go out. My friends wanted me to drive. I was passive then. A drunk driver wrecked into me when I was a sophomore in college. I’m more cautious now.  There are some decisions that I know I won’t make now. I have learned so much and yet I don’t know so much more.