It’s my birthday today and I was dreaming up some poetic post about what turning 45 means to me.

But the truth is that it doesn’t really mean anything to me.

That number has zero significance in my life. It’s a number to mark time.

That said, it is a unique moment in my life, marked by:
• several emotional and physical scars; wounds that have healed yet left their mark—wisdom
• smiling and laughing a lot.
• being so physically strong that it surprises some people.
• endurance over speed.
• understanding and trusting myself.
• bigger and bolder goals than before.
• embracing all that is me.
• deep, meaningful and sometimes complicated relationships.

One important thing to note is that I don’t worry about what my life “should” look like by now. A human life is not an IKEA furniture set that can only turn out one way.

No matter what meaning I would, could or should find in the experience of turning 45, the most important thing, I think, is that I’m still chasing my dreams, still believing that I have something to offer the world, still striving, still working on making a positive impact.

And I do that by running a business, leading a chapter of an international business network, volunteering in a leadership program, taking care of myself, helping others when I can, cycling my a$$ off, walking my talk and being the best mom I can to my son.

No matter what your age or life situation, I hope you’re going for what you want. I hope you also believe that your age is just a number, a way of tracking time. It doesn’t mean anything unless you decide it does.