Entering a New Decade, and Ten More Things I’ve Learned
Today’s my birthday, and it’s a very significant birthday indeed! Multiply the candles on the cake times ten, and that’s the decade I’m entering. I know, I can’t believe it either!
I can’t believe it’s been ten years since I wrote a light-hearted little post about Sixty Things I’ve Learned in Sixty Years! But time keeps marching on doesn’t it, and today I’m having another milestone birthday. So far it’s really been pretty great because my 39 nieces and nephews and 75+ great nieces and nephews have been sending me birthday cards for days, with lots of sweet messages that have really touched my heart. And today I’m going out for a very carb-indulgent birthday lunch with all my siblings who live close enough to come to Salt Lake. And for sure having amazing parents who created a wonderful family is one of the things I’ve always been grateful for during the entire 70 years I’ve been alive.
However, it did take some processing time for me to get used to the idea of announcing to the internet that I’m turning 70! How did that possibly happen? But as any older person can confirm, celebrating your age is really the only alternative that makes sense, no matter how old or young you are.
And the one thing many people seem to be asking me when they find out I’m going to be 70 is, “Are you going to stop blogging?” The answer to that is an emphatic NO, although I can’t promise I won’t slow down a bit and take more time to travel and enjoy life. But when I think about not working on Kalyn’s Kitchen I honestly wonder what I’d do all day if I didn’t have this blog. And hopefully the constant changes in blogging are keeping me mentally younger, even if they annoy me and I’m not quite keeping up with them all!
And even though I’m now undeniably in my senior citizen years I’m not going to stop watching my carbs, exercising with my trainers, and speaking my mind either! I hope I’m at least somewhat of an example to younger women that you can take care of yourself and still be active and involved no matter how old you are. I’ve been continuing to learn life lessons over the last ten years since I wrote that first list, so as the milestone birthday was approaching, I’ve been making a mental list of Ten More Things I’ve Learned. Hope you enjoy reading it!
- Don’t be too quick to decide what you want, because when you’re young you have absolutely no idea how your life will turn out! I say that with total and complete gratitude in my heart for some of the things the last ten years have brought me, things I could have never imagined when I was younger.
- It’s never too late to realize and admit you made a mistake! I’ve made (and admitted to) plenty of mistakes in my personal life. But after spending more than a year dealing with the editing and updating involved in switching Kalyn’s Kitchen to WordPress, I’m definitely admitting I should have made that change about 10 years earlier! But I’m happy to have done it now, even if the editing of older posts is still going to be happening for quite a few more months.
- One of the most crucial parts of good self care is learning to set limits on what you can do! I’ve gone through some mental wrangling the last few years as younger and more tech-savvy bloggers have passed me up in blog features and social media participation. And a few years ago I decided to be okay with just doing it my way. There are some things I’ll never add to my blog or do on social media, and that’s fine. And there are some features I’d like to add to this blog eventually but can’t do until I’m through editing the WordPress changes I talked about above. (And that includes calculating nutritional information for the more than 2,000 recipes that are on this blog. I know people want it, but I just can’t do it right now!)
- For almost all the little decisions you could stress over every day, however you do it is probably fine! For me this lesson is related to setting limits on what I try to do, but also about realizing that so many of the little choices I worried about when I was younger didn’t really matter at all. And these days I’m trying to be more relaxed about the details (something that isn’t easy for a controlling personality type like mine.)
- The older you get, the more fun and important it is to spend time with young kids. Kids see the world in a pure and simple way that’s easy to forget when you’re older and possibly a bit jaded about some things (like maybe politics, you think?) I feel lucky to have spent 30 years working with kids, and now that I’m not doing that any more I’m grateful to my nieces and nephews and younger friends who let me spend time with their kids so I can enjoy the young energy that kids bring.
- If you want to stay healthy and relatively thin as you age, exercise is definitely as important as eating well. I’m a carb-conscious recipe blogger and not an exercise blogger, and that will never change! But a few years ago I started working out several times a week with a personal trainer, and it’s been positively life-changing. I love that my trainers help me keep all my muscles equally strong and working together (in a way I never managed to achieve when I worked out on my own.) But any kind of exercise is always better than no exercise at all!
- Nothing is more satisfying than spending time with like-minded friends! And I would add to that and say that people who aren’t compatible with your values or way of seeing the world will never be worth spending much time with. I feel so lucky to have great like-minded friends to hang out with, both on the web and in real life.
- The older you get, the less it matters what you look like. I know there are hundreds of older women in public life who wouldn’t agree with this statement. But for me, there was a time during the aging process when I realized, “This is as good as I’m ever going to look.” And thankfully that felt okay. And to all the young women worrying about their looks, let me just say I wish I could get back some of the time I wasted in my younger days worrying about how I looked!
- No matter what age you are, following your inner voice is the only way to be comfortable with yourself. This was something that got reinforced for me after I started blogging, and making early decisions about things I wouldn’t want to do for the blog has saved me a lot of mental aggravation through the years.
- Not everything about getting older is enjoyable, but it beats the heck out of the alternative! This was actually #27 on my list of Sixty Things I’ve Learned in Sixty Years, but it’s well worth repeating. And I’m grateful and feel lucky to be enjoying my later years so much.
And if you’ve read my list clear to the end, thanks for making it all the way through this post that doesn’t even have a recipe! I’m grateful to everyone who visits here and I appreciate all the good thoughts readers send my way on a regular basis. And here’s looking forward to many, many more years of cooking, recipes, and healthy food coming up!
121 Comments on “Entering a New Decade, and Ten More Things I’ve Learned”
Happy Birthday Kalyn. I’ve been following your blog for a very long time and love your recipes and your outlook on life and family. Enjoy your day but stay safe!
I realized this morning that every time I access your site, I mentally stop because I have to have a little argument with myself about how to pronounce your name 😉 I’m hoping that you will set me straight and that I’ll stop such a ridiculous internal debate. Is it Kay lin (as in long a like cake) or Kal lin (as in short a like calorie). Or something else?
Thanks for the nice wishes! So glad you are enjoying the name. My name is pronounced with a long a, as it would be if it was two words: Kay Lynn.
My mother made up the name when she was waiting for me to be born, but since I’ve had this blog I’ve heard from about 20 people who knew someone with the same name! And people have mispronounced it all my life, which doesn’t really bother me.
You stay safe too! I will be staying home for the birthday with hopes of celebrating with a big trip or something when things get back to normal.
Today is my birthday. Now I’m 47. I can’t believe it.
Looking at birthday’s candles’ photos on the Internet ended up reading your “Ten more things” that you’ve learned.
I’m thinking about taking some difficult decisions in my life by next month:
I’m single and I’m quitting my permanent job as a lecturer in the university (that I work for 19 years) and starting a new PhD program in another country to immigrate there and pursuing a new life and new career may after 3 or 4 years. I feel I’m walking through dark woods but I’m not hopeless. I can do it. I’ll find a little light.
When I’m looking back on my life, I can see how different was my life. These people and I have lived on the same planet, but we are living in different worlds. Most parts of my childhood passed with fear when we were victims of a long-term war. I don’t know why I’m writing this irrelevant stuff here.
Maybe because nobody knows me here and I can think aloud.
Anyway, I think I’m not a great cook like my mother and sisters, but sometimes I like to cook and I enjoy it.
Thanks, Kalyn
Hi Sara, happy birthday! I am wishing you the best as you think about what’s ahead for you. But you sound like you are figuring it out! And I admire your courage in going for it.
I love your blog , and recipes ,hope you hang out for a while longer. Thank You and Happy Anniversary.
Thanks Barbara, definitely I will!
Happy Birthday Kalyn! You are a true inspiration!!
Thanks Martha!
Kalyn, I have been enjoying your blogs for about a year now. In my minds eye I could see you as a very young woman, that’s the way you sound to me anyway. I am trying to follow a low carb diet and you recipes are so good and fun. Thank you for all the work you do . Happy New Year!
Ah thank you Elda. I guess I am young at heart. At least I try to be! Happy New Year to you too!
Belated congrats on your birthday. I turned 60 a few months ago and I think it’s a great milestone!
I think your blog is great as is so please be proud of it and never worry about what others are doing.
Best wishes and Happy New Year!
Thanks for the kind thoughts Vicki! So glad you are enjoying the blog!
Happy Birthday! I have reading your blog and cooking your recipes for a long time now! It’s still my go-to site when meal planning every week. Thanks for this incredible resource!
Thanks Michelle, so glad you have been enjoying the blog!
Have a wonderful birthday. I’m recently in the same decade as you are and yes, exercise is key. We need to keep moving. Love your recipes and blog. I use your recipes all the time.
Yes, exercise is such a great habit to get into. So glad you are enjoying the recipes Shelley!
Happy Birthday Kalyn! I so enjoy your blog and always turn to it for recipe ideas. Here’s to lots more great cooking!
Wendy
Thanks Wendy! So glad you are enjoying it.
Happiest of birthdays to you! I l love your recipes. How great is it that you started your blog when you were 60! Many wishes for many, many happy years in the future!
Thanks Sharon, so glad you’re enjoying the recipes. I actually started the blog when I was 56, 14 years blogging in April 2019.
Happy 70th Birthday! I’m fairly new to your site and never would have guessed your age by the energy you portray. I’m 66 and enjoyed your “learning ” comments Keep up the good work!
God Bless you in all that you do.
Thanks Bonnie! Welcome and glad you’re enjoying the site.
Thank you for an excellent website with delicious recipes and inspiring commentary! Keep on blogging! 🙂
And happy happy birthday to you!
Thanks Sarah! So glad you’re enjoying the blog!
🎶Happy Birthday – belated – Kalyn🎶 Sorry to have missed it. 70 is just at the doorstep of getting older! We are seasoned and ready to keep going! You are, and alwayshave been, an inspiration to me! Liked you from the moment I met you in my first faculty meeting! ! Keep living and loving your life and it will love you back! Love you kiddo 💃🏼
Thanks Linda! Same to you!
Happy, happy birthday! I enjoy your blog and recipes so much.
So happy to hear that, thank you!
Congratulations! I’m right behind you! Happy Birthday to you and many more!
I enjoy your blog and am very happy you aren’t going to stop!
Thanks Tracey! I guess I will stop someday but right now I absolutely can’t imagine not doing it!
happy birthday a day late. it is still your birthday month. Love your low carb recipes!
Thanks Mary, not late at all! So glad you’re enjoying the recipes.
Happy Birthday Kalyn, Thank you for your post above, inspirational.
Love your blog keep up the great work, Once again thank you, all the way from Down Under…..Australia
Thanks Wanda! So glad you’re enjoying the blog and so fun hearing from someone so far away!
Happy Birthday! I appreciate your blog! Here’s to many more years!
Thanks Kim! So glad you’re enjoying the blog!
Happy bithday, Kayln. When I started my blogging, I found your blog is one of my favourites that always inpires me in many ways. I’ve bookmarked this post. These 10 things will be good reminders for me to get better blogging and better living. Enjoy what you have and everday is a blessing.
Thanks Christine; glad you have enjoyed the blog. I do remember talking with you online a few times years ago! Good to hear from you!
Thanks for that message. One thing you said was “The older you get, the less it matters what you look like.” A corollary to that is that “wrinkles arent painful.”
As I prepare to enter decade 8.5 in March I still do (most of) the cooking in our house. Other times we eat out. Your recipes have helped immeasurably in what I do, and I try to review them frequently to stay our of a rut. Keep up the good work and don’t worry about aging. It’s natural!
Thanks Jim; glad you are enjoying the recipes! So glad they’ve been helpful.
Have a wonderful birthday and wishing you, many, many happy returns of the day.
Thanks Selina!
Happy happy birthday, dear Kalyn, and wish you many moooorrrrreeeee! I absolutely, positively cannot believe that you are 70. Thanks for the words of wisdom and sending you much love from Georgia.
Thanks Nupur; I can hardly believe it myself! So fun hearing from you; hope you are well!
Lovely post Kalyn. Happy Birthday!
Thanks Letty! xo
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KALYN !
Thank you for your wonderful recipes that help me to stay low carb….at 74! Much appreciated.
Thanks for the birthday wishes! Glad to hear the recipes are helpful for you!
Happy Bday! Thank you for your wise words. I enjoy your blog and your common sense.
Thanks Jodcha! Glad you like it!
I love to see that you are proud of your age and still want to be a participant in life. I feel the same way. I passed the 70 mark 6 years ago in May and while I’m retired from my work life, I still strive to remain relevant and active and informed. As you point out, it’s certainly better than the alternative.
Keep on doing what you do. Nutrition is important not only for the young, but as we get older too.
Pat, absolutely! It really is the only alternative.
Great words of wisdom. Happy Birthday!!
Thanks Tammy!
Happy birthday! And thank you for sharing all your tips and advice. I love all the healthy recipes you share on Kalyn’s Kitchen and I often refer to it when deciding what to cook for dinner!
Thanks Rehka, so glad you’re enjoying the recipes!
Hi Kalyn!
Wishing you a very Happy Birthday as well as many more to come. Yes, I certainly do appreciate your “things I’ve learned” lists. I remember reading your 60th birthday list. Thank you for all that you do for us.
Hi Margaret. Fun hearing from someone who has been reading that long! Glad my blog is helpful for you!
Happy Birthday! Hit the same milestone two months ago! I agree with all of your sentiments.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your recipes.
Thanks Dee; glad you are enjoying them!
I hope you have a great celebration of your life. Thank you for your blog. It’s meant a lot to me for a lot of years.
Betsy-Gay that warms my heart to hear that! So glad you have enjoyed it!
Oh, the wisdom that comes with the 70’s is so much better than the anxieties of youth. You hit the nail on the head with these comments about how to let go and let it be. Let go and let God is my way of looking at it. Keep up sending your blog as long as you feel like it’s satisfying, and we’ll keep reading and enjoying it.
Thanks so much Cheryl, glad you are enjoying the recipes and my occasional thoughts!
Kalyn thank you for sharing! Happy Happy Birthday!I have been enjoying your recipes for a few yers and have recently had a heart attack which forced me to make even more changes to my diet and exercise … your blog continues to inspire me and help m make wise and delicious food choices! I’m about 5 years behind you in age…and maybe I’ll look into that personal trainer! Carry on!
Thanks for the birthday wishes Debbie. And I can’t say enough good things about how life-changing having a trainer has been for me!
Happy birthday Kalyn! 🎂🎉 You are a truly amazing lady. I look forward to continuing to receive your blog emails everyday and trying your awesome new recipes often. Thanks for everything you do. You’re a blessing to us all.
Thanks for the kind words Richard, so glad you are enjoying the recipes!
Happy Birthday Kalyn and welcome to the 70’s. I am 5 years older than you and enjoying every minute of my life. I too work with a trainer, watch what I eat, walk 3 miles a day, spend time with the young grandkids, hike in the mountains and play in the snow . Interesting how ones outlook on life changes as one gets older. Reading your “ten things you learned” was like reading about myself but I never reduced my thoughts to writing. . Thank you for publishing yours.. They really resonate with me. Love your recipes and love your outlook on life. And again, Happy Special Birthday, so many more to come.
Thanks Ardel. I love that our thoughts on this are so aligned.
Happy birthday beautiful Kalyn!!! I’m so glad to have found you. Your voice is a wise one, and I respect your advice!
God bless you, truly! May this new decade bring you unbelievable joy and strength. May your creativity be amped even more than it already is!! May you and your family have great health and many wonderful times spent together ! Thank you for all you do for all of us!!
Thanks NIcole; I feel lucky to have an amazing family and so many nice readers too!
Wishing you a blessed year ahead!
And thanks for all you do.
Sincere thanks,
Marilyn Wright
Snellville, Ga 30078
Thanks Marilyn!
I am 72 years old. I would like to add one more thing to your list and its a BIG one! Learn to say..NO! I see my friends who are otherwise very sensible, red eyed and in much need of a nap because they have over booked themselves. Is exercise important? Yes! Is eating right important? Yes! So is peace of mind and honesty. Hamlet has said, “To Thine Own self Be True”. Hard to do but as my Daddy always said, You can say anything to anybody, its the way you say it. And to all you people out there that received a RSVP with “will NOT attend” checked off, don’t read anything into it. Could be just that we are older and tired. Happy Holidays!
Thanks Kathleen. That’s a great addition to my list. I’ve been working on saying NO for a few years now and I’m getting pretty good at it!
Welcome to the 70’s! I’m a year ahead of you and agree with all 10 of the things you’ve learned. Have a wonderful birthday and year to follow!🎉
Thanks Judy! So far 70 feels pretty good!
Happiest birthday, kalyn! You’re catching up to me. Stay a child inside and you’ll be fine. Thanks for all your blogs. And remember to visit london! x
Thanks Janice! I need to go to London and eat at Ottolenghi’s restaurants! That’s on my bucket list for sure! Glad you’re enjoying the posts.
Happy Birthday! I’ve enjoyed your recipes, blog and information for nearly two years. Your advice is excellent, especially the stressing about what you look like. I do that when I am 130lb or 230lb….I met a lady (who became a very dear friend) who was 83. I remember telling her that she didn’t look like she was 83. And she replied to me “It’s funny you should say that, I’ve often wondered what 83 should like like. Every decade is a new beginning and every decade has been exciting and fun- 80 is no different.” I shall always remember that statement. It reminds me to live every day to the fullest, eat healthy and look for new adventures. You are about to embark on a new adventure and I’m confident it will exciting and fun. I look forward to many more recipes and lots of interesting blogs!!
Thanks Stephanie. I think not having to worry so much about how you look is one of the most freeing things about being older for women, and maybe for men too! Thanks for reading!
Happy Birthday Kalyn!
Thank you for so many sugar free/Low Carb recipes!
They’ve made such a difference to my life and cooking habits!
Thank you; so glad you have been enjoying the recipes!
Happy Birthday!
Thank you!
Happy Birthday! I’m not much of a blog reader, but when I found out that you were 70…well….I just had to keep reading! You see, I am 64 and loving life! I started keto last January…lost 35 pounds and keeping it off. I’m not into exercising, but I do try to walk 3 miles every day. I started getting your emails for the recipes, but now I will be reading as well.
Have a great day!
Thanks Judy! Good job on the weight loss. Glad you’re enjoying the recipes!
Happy, Happy Birthday, dear Kalyn! Much love xoxo
Hi Paz! Great to hear from you; thanks for the good wishes! Hope you are well!
Happy birthday Kalyn! Wishing you continued good health, friendship, enjoyment, happiness and adventures (virtual and irl).
Thanks for all the great recipes that are now part of our family’s everyday cooking.
Thanks Elle; glad you are enjoying the recipes!
Wishing you a very Happy Birthday, Kalyn…and many more to come.
Thank you for all the work you’ve done on this website. It is very helpful to me, and I appreciate all your work.
Thanks Mary! So glad it’s helpful for you!
Happy happy birthday Kalyn! 70 Years young! Sometimes I wonder what I would do all day if I weren’t blogging. Will I still be doing this when I’m 70? 40 years from now? It’s hard to imagine, but also hard to imagine not doing it!
Thanks Karen! I didn’t start until I was 56, but still I can’t imagine stopping now.
Happy birthday, Kaylyn. I agree with all your 10 points.
The World Health Organization declared last year that middle age is not 60-80, and old age only after that. So we are middle-aged individuals.
Thanks Deb! Good to know that we’re still middle aged, lol!
SO wise! Thank you for sharing your wisdom and joie de vivre! You are a hero of mine!
Thanks Donna! You are a hero of mine too, so we’re even!
Always a joy to read and follow you! One of my favorites out there. Maybe because we are close in “maturity”!
SuAnn, I think that like-mindedness is so important! Thanks for the support all these years!
Happy, happy, happy birthday to the most amazing sister imaginable! Your generosity, kindness, and unconditional love is such a blessing to me! And I’ve learned so much from you! Here’s to the next amazing 70 years! I love you!
Thanks Rand, I love you too and am so grateful for your creativity and talent, plus your constant emotional support!
Happy Birthday to the best sister ever! Have a fabulous day, we love you so much!
Thanks Pam! Love you too and appreciate all you do for me!
Happy Birthday Kalyn! Great advice. Was lucky to spend time with you in SLC some years ago. I’m coming up on one of those decade birthdays this month too, and feel the same way as you. I hope your year is filled with all the things you are looking forward to!
Yes I remember our fun dinner at The Red Iguana! Hope your birthday is as great as mine has been so far!
Great, meaningful words. I make so many of your recipes and I really appreciate the time that goes into your testing them. Happy, happy birthday!
Thanks Diana, so glad you are enjoying the recipes!
Happy, Happy Birthday, Kalyn!
Thanks Jenni!
Read to the end and enjoyed every wise word, suggestion, bits of humor and sage advice. I want to be just like you if I ever grow up. You are a rock star in my opinion. Grateful to be your friend. I learn from you all the time. Keep posting all those things that motivate me and others to just be happier women. Happy birthday!
Thanks Jan! So glad we are getting re-acquainted! Looking forward to spending more time together.
One of my favorite things about the past decade is our friendship in real life, which came about because we met as bloggers all those years ago! Thanks for sharing your wisdom about aging with grace. I’m trying to follow your example!
Thanks Lydia! So glad we met up and became friends through our blogs. And looking forward to more real-life adventures together in the future!
Happy Birthday once again, Kalyn! I always love your celebratory “things I’ve learned” post. They always speak to me and I think they probably resonate with everyone. The older one gets, the less one really thinks about one’s age I think but “big birthdays” do make one pause a bit for sure. 😉 Anyway, we are so happy to have you here sharing your recipes and your joyful approach to food and life!
Thanks! I hope you will savor every single one of your birthday greetings and celebrations!
Shirley
Thanks so much Shirley! How I wish we had managed to meet up when I was in D.C. but let’s keep working on that!
Well said Kalyn! I wish you a very happy birthday and I am so pleased that I have gotten to know you over the years!
Thanks Pam, and same to you! I still hope we can meet in person some day!