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Why I Started BeeYouXOXO and 40 Before 40

Honoring Life at 40

While I have always said I wanted a bucket list or casually mentioned an item here or there, nothing was ever quantifiable or concrete. For the first time, I put it down on paper. In just over seven months I will turn 40, and I want to honor that.

When I was twenty-five, my family lost an important family member who was basically the same age. While I will not go into details, I learned that the gift of life is not a privilege everyone gets. I do not want to misuse that gift. In honor of that, I thought it was the perfect reason to create a list of 40 things I want to do before that big milestone birthday a lot of people fear.

What Divorce Taught Me

When I got married at twenty-one, I pictured myself racing my ex-husband in wheelchairs at old age. Life taught me that is not my destiny. But there is nothing, and no one, stopping me from recalibrating an amazing future as many times as needed.

I do not see divorce as sad or as a failure anymore. Thank goodness I am not stuck next to someone who was not a thousand percent sure I was their person. We do not want that. Like the dicho says, mejor sola que mal acompañada. For me, divorce was simply a change of chapter in the book of my life.

Why BeeYouXOXO Exists Now

BeeYouXOXO is not brand new. I have had this blog and other blogs before, but back then they did not have a real reason or compass. It was like a baby duck without a mama duck. Well, guess what? I am the mama duck now, and this blog has a rhyme and a reason. Before, I shared pieces of my life without knowing where it was going. Now I am coming back with clarity and purpose.

The Spark that Lit the List

The spark came on September 19, 2025, when I saw a TikTok about someone’s 40 Before 40 list. It reminded me of the time I thought about doing a 30 Before 30 but never followed through. I let that moment pass. This time I will not.

A Preview: Axe Throwing

One of the first things I told my brother about was axe throwing. His reaction was the same as my ex-boyfriend’s. Concern. Neither of them were wrong. I am clumsy, and they did not want me to get hurt. But that is the goal. To show myself that even if I have been labeled clumsy by others and by myself, I can step into something that challenges that label.

We cannot let other people’s opinions write our destiny. That does not mean their words are useless. Some things on my list are more likely to succeed. Others, like axe throwing, carry risk. The balance is important. It is about knowing myself and still pushing forward.

What Comes Next

I have not shared the full list yet. Axe throwing is just a preview of what I want to do between now and April 25, 2026. BeeYouXOXO is where I will track this list, my bariatric surgery prep, the everyday lifestyle moments, and the little joys with Oliver.

This space is not about perfection. It is about becoming. Healthier, braver, more present, and more myself. Always Becoming.

What would be on your bucket list if you made one today?

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