Fifty two.
I turned 52 a couple days ago, and that number has got me thinking. There are 52 cards in a deck, so maybe I’m playing with a full deck now?! There are 52 weeks in a year. Hmmm. What can I do in a year? What can I do THIS year, my 52nd year?
For starters, I’m going to take at least 52 days off this year. For over 15 years, I’ve only taken 4-5 days off a year. That includes weekends. Working 360 days a year isn’t good for anyone. I get that now. In the last 7 years, I’ve had a few extra days away from work...but having 5 major surgeries — oh, and one more looming — doesn’t count as time off. So, at least one day a week off this year. It didn’t get to start in January as I had hoped, so I’m making it start now, the first week of my own new year.
I’m also resolved to trying new things, so 52 new things sounds good to me. New places, new foods, new books, new friends...all that sounds so great to me. So, bring it on, 52!
This birthday has also made me reflect on friends I’ve lost in their 50s. It’s too young. It’s not fair. One was just last month. It still breaks my heart. We kept making plans for “next year”. What if these 52 weeks are all the ones we get? Did we use it wisely? Did we make the phone calls? Did we take the pictures? Or do we look back, wishing we did?
When is your birthday? What will you do with your 52 weeks?