JoOutLoud

51st birthday. It's funny - I didn't imagine middle age would feel like this.

My body is strong - stronger than it was at 40.

I love my work - work I didn't know existed at 40.

My kids are grown but are still so much a part of my world - I thought it would be more lonely but it just makes our time together more precious.

I love the city I live in - a place that wasn't on my radar at 40.

I still have the same cat. He hasn't moved out yet. So there's that I guess 😂

I look forward to everything that this next year brings me. ♥️

Good news: I've joined a book club.

Bad news: It's on Tuesday and I haven't read the book.

Good news: I'm on holidays and have nothing better to do than "cram for book club".

A day off. Patio time, and reflection on this next part of my life.

What would you want to say your legacy was, 20 yrs from now?

I don't have any pictures of my three girls together, so I commissioned Nate Gagnon to create a multi-media portrait of them.

I asked for whimsical. He nailed it.

1. Go to Instagram and follow Nate

2. Hire Nate

Supporting young artists is where it's at.

Someone commented to me: why do you put so much "just life" stuff on your account? Where's the "parenting and resilience" stuff?

I want you to know I'm just me. Doing me things. And also hopefully, once in a while giving you food for thought to make the world better for kids.

Plus, you're not the boss of me 😉😂

Summer reading list started