Saying Hello To 40
Today I am 40.
FORTY.
Dude. Can I still say dude? Actually, don't answer that because I'll probably still do it anyway.
Well, I'm writing this when I'm still 39. I imagine that tomorrow I will feel much like feel today which, like I wrote about last week, is pretty good.
I'm celebrating with many of the people I love most and missing some that are far away. My Mom's here. Paolo's here for a few days. Aaron's around. The kids are here. People are taking care of me and helping me celebrate and I'm letting them. That's a big step in the right direction for me.
Today I just want you to know how thankful I am for you. Thank you for being here and reading and supporting and signing up and cheering on and commiserating and asking good questions and encouraging and sharing and celebrating your own lives. Doing what I do has been a crazy, wonderful ride - one that I never expected to be part of my life experience.
Here's to many more opportunities to celebrate where we are right this very minute with open hearts.
Happy 40th Birthday, Ali! I hope this is the best year yet for you.
When I turned 40, it was a wake up call for me. I had been in a really bad marriage for the last 10 years of a 19 year marriage. I made the hardest decision of my life to take the giant leap of courage to get a divorce, get an apartment, become a single parents 6 out of 7 days a week. I felt alive and happy and free even though it was really, really hard. I'm about to turn 46 soon and I can tell you I have never been happier in my life. I am remarried and the children are really happy and thriving.
Life for me began at 40! I hope you have the same happiness, my friend. You are such an inspiration to all of us.
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Love you, Ali, you are my scrapbooking patronus! I know you are having a fabulous birthday!
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Happy birthday Ali! I have looked up to your crafting abilities for quite some time and you are just uber AMAZING!! I hope you have a fantastic and wonderful day. And like some else said on here..you too are my scrapbooking patronus hehe. Much love and God bless. <3
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Very happy birthday - zero birthdays are the best! I am very happy I stumbled upon the Ali/PLife community about a year ago. Love your stuff.
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HaPpY BiRtHdAy! Love that photo of you with your parents! I am almost sixty, but the forties were the BEST! I hope you enjoy your forties half as much as I did. Eat Cake!
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oh happy happy happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope it's a great day and that you feel love :) You're awesome!
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Happy birthday Ali! 40 are awesome, you'll see... Best wishes from the other side of the Atlantic(Portugal).
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Happy birthday dear Ali! I am a stranger to you- but your writing has been so inspirational to me as I am a graduate student studying literacy education, teaching future English teachers, and researching how we can design meaningful storytelling experiences in public school. Your blog has been a constant reminder for me of what matters most- honesty in writing, vulnerability in sharing, beauty in production. What a lighthouse you are for those of us on the creative path and what a gift your life is to this world. You never can tell how many lives you are touching! Happy to share some of the inspiring ripples you are sending out into public education. : )
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Birthday Blessings Ali! You are an inspiration to so many in very many ways!
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Happy Birthday, Ali.
Thank you for your vision of memory keeping and your artistry in executing it. Thank you for sharing that vision and your process with us.
Thank you most of all for sharing your more vulnerable moments with us in a respectful manner and for respecting your children's privacy.
At 63, I think I can say you have many great years ahead!
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Totally concur with all these posts. Since 40 is the new 20, you are very much a youngster to me. I will be 70 on my next birthday, but remember 40 like it was yesterday. Here's to a decade of fun, laughter, happiness and success!,
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Happy 40th Ali! The 40's are the best! I'm sure it will be for you!
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Have the Happiest Birthday!!! I know you are going to ROCK your 40's, just like you ROCK everyhing else:)!!
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Wishing you a very happy birthday, Ali! 4 decades. Yeah!
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From one Ali to another - Happy Birthday! You are 480 months old!! Congrats!!
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Happy Birthday Ali!!!
Love the photo of you and your parents. A lot of love pours out of that photo.
Have a craft beer and let the celebration happen.
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Happy birthday!!
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Birthday wishes from Australia. Have a wonderful birthday and enjoy being 40
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Happy Birthday, Ali! The forties are a good decade -- welcome to the club.
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How cute is this photo??? SO!
Happy Happy birthday! Enjoy all the spoiling.
Julie
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Happy Birthday Ali!
Amelia Woodbridge
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Have a fabulous 40th Birthday! I hope your year is as amazing as you are! Thank you for inspiring us in so many ways.
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Happy birthday!! You look SO much like your mom! I can see a bit of your dad in there too, though. :) I'll be 40 in three months, and I am just not sure what to think about it. Five months ago, I had a new baby, so I feel like I'm caught in this weird in-between stage of life. I loved what "sortedscrapper" commented on your 40 glasses Instagram picture today. She said, "...Do not fear the years to come. Life gets more fabulous if you let it." I needed to read that. :) --Jenny B.
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Happy Birthday Ali!!! Dude, you are awesome!! So thankful you do what you do! Thanks for being you! Have a wonderful day!
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Happy a very blessed 40th Birthday Ali and may all your wishes be fulfilled!
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