Turning 56

Reflections on Gratitude, Presence, and Living Fully

Birthdays have a way of making us pause. This week, I turned 56, and like many milestones, it nudged me into reflection. Not about the number itself, but about what it represents.

If there’s one lesson the years have taught me, it’s that life is uncertain and unpredictable. Plans can shift, circumstances can change, and the things we hold onto as permanent often aren’t. That reality can feel unsettling, but instead, I see it as a reminder not to take people or moments for granted.

Gratitude has become my anchor. It grounds me when the pace of life accelerates, when worries about the future creep in, and when I find myself tempted to measure my worth by milestones alone. Gratitude slows me down. It forces me to notice what’s already here.

At this stage of life, I realize that the quiet, ordinary moments often matter more than the grand achievements we chase. A conversation with a loved one over morning coffee. A simple walk under the rising sun. The small opportunity to brighten someone else’s day. These are the real milestones, even if they never make it into a résumé or social feed.

As I look ahead, my reflection is simple. Live fully, live gratefully, and seize the day. None of us knows how many more we’ll have, but we do know that each one is a gift. The question is whether we’ll choose to be present enough to receive it.

So let me leave you with this, as you look at your own life today, what is one thing you’re most grateful for? Take a moment, name it, and let that gratitude shape how you step into tomorrow.