A few months ago, my youngest son turned 6 and I recall how excited he was to be having a birthday. Thirty days prior to his birthday he started a countdown and talked incessantly about all the things he was going to do on his big day. He was eager to turn 6 and not be 5 anymore. “I’ll be a big boy now, right mom?” he asked continuously. He was 5 going on 12, and on his way to “catching up” with his older brother. His birthday (finally) arrived and he had the time of his life, the “bestest birthday ever,” he proclaimed all day.  He went to bed…

He was in my thoughts every minute of the day, in my dreams every hour of the night.  I was 29 and this new love hit me like a freight train. There was no stopping us. It was passionate, it was intense, it was raw, it was euphoric, it was addicting, and every other emotion in between. My life was a non-stop rollercoaster, full of excitement, suspense, and my arms up in the air savoring every forsaken second of this thrilling ride. By his side, I could envision the possibility of an amazing life. I have been with my husband for 16 years now, and this is how our love…

I read these words today, and they spoke to me, they resonated with me. Today in my 40s, one of the main things that has changed about me is my views on change. I have always fought it or feared it, but now I embrace it. Change, although not always positive, endows fundamental shifts to your being, to your mindset, to your soul. The dictionary defines change as “to make or become different”. My definition is to make or become better. I remember as a young child, how change was a normal part of life having moved several times between Argentina and the U.S. Changes in culture, changes in language,…

For some reason there’s something taboo about turning 40 or admitting that you’re in your 40s, especially for women. I remember a friend of mine on the day of her 40th birthday excitedly telling everyone that she was no longer thirty-nine, but thirty-ten. She was joking and we all laughed, but many a truths are spoken in jest. I also remember a friend telling me that once you turn 40 it’s all downhill from there. It’s when your body and mind start acting up. You begin to notice things in your appearance that weren’t there before, you start suffering from a variety of weird ailments, and you begin to feel…

Are you over 40 and realizing our stories are not being told enough or reflected in mainstream media and culture? Join us to shine out loud!