Can You Do Something New?

Tomorrow is my birthday! Honestly, if my twin sister hadn’t come into town yesterday this week, I would have completely forgotten. Last year, I spent my birthday coming home early from a job I’d started earlier that week, to Lucas who was sick. I picked him up from daycare and he proceeded to puke the entire ride to the doctor’s office where a severe ear infection was confirmed. Thankfully, he had some spare clothes in the trunk and I was mostly spared. We all know the carseat was not spared. So, I spent that day and most of the weekend in the lukewarm bath or giving antibiotics and Tylenol around the clock. It wasn’t all bad; I did get to eat food from my favorite sushi restaurant, while watching Netflix with my husband, and cuddling Luke until he felt better. This was how I spent my 30th birthday.

The activities mothers do - like taking care of sick babies on our birthdays, have a way of making us feel as though nothing can really be about us. One of the running jokes in my family has been that my mom “can’t have anything” because she’d have to share everything with us. Every once in awhile she’d find some strange snack or weird flavored tea no one else would drink and have it all to herself. Otherwise, she could expect her snacks or other items to disappear in the name of keeping “starvation” at bay or a school project. Another running thing in my family is my dad asking us “what can you do new?” each year for our birthdays. Sometimes it was a household chore, like “the privilege” of washing dishes at age 11 (my parents were smart) or getting a learner’s permit at 16. Each year since I can remember, I’ve been asked to produce some new skill to add to my repertoire. And I’ve accepted it as a challenge to do something new in between each birthday. I call it “Terry New Year” (that’s my original last name) and I set new goals for myself! I have been telling my friends about it for years. Who cares about January 1st?! Choose a day meaningful to you! Let it be all about you and start to set yourself up for success in the next year. Start with a small or large goal list. Start doing the thing that’s good for you but you really hate. Tell your friends about your goals! Let them help you bring those goals to fruition. Well, what new thing can I do?! I’ve got other certifications I want to get and ways I want to expand my business and serve my community. I have personal health goals - like seeing a dermatologist for the first time EVER! Or making and going to dentist appointments because I can still be a GIANT baby about it at 31. But I want to set a good example for the boys. So, off I go. I’m excited to do push myself to keep learning and growing. Maybe I will grow to love the dentist?! Who knows?! I doubt it but I can become more faithful to going!

Also, happiest of birthdays to my twin! Thanks for being in my corner no matter what new idea I’ve cooked up, this year and every year!