Celebrating 40 years of life is full of mixed emotions. Many celebrate with elaborate parties wrapped around a cliched theme & captured in pictures that become plastered on social media. Some go into overdrive in their daily normalcy as if not acknowledging the arrival of this milestone will change it. Nah, you still 40 years old. Yet others find a passively acceptable balance and simply relish in another year of life. I fall into the latter group. My 40th birthday came without a lot of fanfare, and was a moment for me to reflect on life. As I basked in the well wishes, gifts, & wonderful dinner date, I realized that there was a lot of life wrapped up in 40 years. I marveled at the failures, accomplishments, heartbreaks, heart-bursts, & moments that I’m still in awe over – both good & bad. But, what I most celebrated was that at 40 years old I FINALLY could look in the mirror everyday and see MY BEAUTY! I now saw beauty in my protruding nose; my elongated head; my acne spotted arms & back; my caramel colored stretch marks; my slanted toes & bunions; my wide hips; and my semi-reverted post braces teeth. I realized that my flaws are the unique markers God designed to set me apart. My battle with loving these flaws made me the woman I am. I realized that me seeing the beauty of self, in spite of the flaws, was my reminder of God’s love for me. In spite of my sinful blemishes God still loves me & sees me as one of His beautiful masterpieces. So, I will carry this gift of love with me as I continue to live, and embrace my beauty at 40.