Jaime, 41

Hope you’re surviving Tax Day. Since I filed my extension in the nick of time and have a few more months to procrastinate on the money I owe the government this year, my mind rewinds to 1991…

Jaime was my partner for cheerleader tryouts in high school. We both made the team. Go, Falcons. We have been, like, totally BFFs ever since. There are very few people who understand the ins and outs of my soul like this lady does and I’m so glad she agreed to participate in this project.

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WHAT 3 WORDS DESCRIBE YOUR 20S AND 30S?
Frustrated, embracing, confident

WHAT 3 WORDS DESCRIBE YOU NOW?
Accepting, embracing, confident

WHAT IMPORTANT LIFE LESSON DID YOU LEARN IN YOUR 30S?
I learned that happiness lies in the life that you have already. True happiness isn’t dependent on how hard you try or how much you strive to be the best. It depends on your outlook on the life you have now.

WHAT IMPORTANT LIFE LESSON ARE YOU LEARNING NOW IN YOUR 40S?
I’m learning that life is so hard … but that “perfect happiness” really does exist. I felt it when I realized that happiness comes from appreciating what I have right now, not what I will have or hope to have.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT ASPECT OF GROWING OLDER?
The sudden realization that this is it! This IS life. Sure, I’m special, like everyone else, but I’m not better than anybody else. When I was younger, I told myself I was going to show everybody including my mom how it was done but now I’m realizing that I’m not going to live my life better than how my mom lived her life.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST ASPECT OF GROWING OLDER?
Now that I’m a happily married mother of two, I can compliment cute guys freely without giving them the wrong idea that I’m hitting on them!

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE YEARS AHEAD?
I would like to travel the world with my family, to challenge my children to have hopes and dreams for their lives that are big enough to serve God. I also want to teach them that money and success are not as important as their morality, faith and health.