Let me introduce myself

Let me introduce myself - I am Minja, the midlife ninja. I am sneaking up on Midlife and attempting to kick it square in the ass. Although most women seem to dread getting older, I've embraced it. With age comes wisdom. And patience. And attitude.

I am just on the other side of 40 years old and I couldn't be happier. Somehow, strangely, my life took a turn for the better after that momentous birthday. Everything on the outside stayed the same - same husband, same kids, same home and same car - but the person on the inside changed drastically. It all started when one day I decided that I no longer had to say yes to everyone. When my friends or family had asked me to do something for them that I really didn't want to do, like pick them up at the airport during rush hour, I would have always said yes. No, I really didn't want to go to the airport, and no, I really didn't want to come water your plants everyday while you were on vacation, but I still agreed to do it. Why? Because that was the kind of person I am. Nice.

But then I turned 40, and all of a sudden I realized that if I didn't say yes all the time I wouldn't have to do all those annoying things. More importantly, I realized that even though I refused go with you to see that new chick flick, you still liked me as a friend. This was a big deal for me. I was not one to say no before, and I found a certain sense of power every time I said it. I didn't know it then, but this small change was the beginning of the transformation to becoming the new me.

Of course I still say yes to friends and family for some stupid requests, but that's because I'm nice. But now I pick and choose what nice thing I am going to do. And I don't feel bad when I say no. The airport at rush hour is out of the question. If you want your plants watered you can hire my son for $25 a week. However I will go to the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie with you. But you have to drive.