Working the numbers....

I found out yesterday that I'm practically living on borrowed time. This newsflash came from a conversation relayed to me by my 12 year-old-daughter, Rosalind. It seems her 5 year-old-sister, Jennifer, was asking her about my age. Jennifer's first guess was 18 (not bad--I always knew I liked that kid!). She was shocked to learn that I was actually 39 and would be 40 in less than a year. At this point, Rosalind tells me, Jennifer screwed up her face into a puzzled expression and asked, "Is mommy close to the end of the numbers?"

As funny as that is, it got me thinking about how I often feel close to the end of the numbers (and I'm not even talking about what it feels like to get out of bed in the morning!). It usually is a cause for stress. Who, after all, likes to feel they are close to the end of the numbers...of dollars in their wallet to last until the next paycheck....of calories for the day when the dessert is calling loud and clear...of the hours left in a day when there's still so much more that needs doing...The list could go on and on....

I think, though, this is an adult approach more so than a kid approach. Kids often see life from a "count down" rather than a "what's left" perspective. They "can't wait" until this or that happens. They get excited with the dwindling numbers as an anticipated event approaches.
Somehow I think they have the better take on this.

For today, I'm going to readjust my perspective. I'm going to sit down and make myself a list of all the things I can't wait to happen...I might even make myself a paper chain and tear off a link every day as I count down the days until "the event" happens. That way, when my 5 year-old- asks me why I'm so happy, I can tell her...." because I'm getting close to the end of the numbers!"