Mommy's new mantra: Try everything

ZOOTOPIA – The modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia is a city like no other. Comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it’s a melting pot where animals from every environment live together—a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when optimistic Officer Judy Hopps arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde, to solve the mystery. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia,” a comedy-adventure directed by Byron Howard (“Tangled,” “Bolt”) and Rich Moore (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “The Simpsons”) and co-directed by Jared Bush (“Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero”), opens in theaters on March 4, 2016. ©2015 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

This is a big birthday year for me. A milestone one.

I’m actually not sad to be leaving my 30s behind. They were great years that brought me both of my babies and really shaped the person I have become but there were also plenty of challenges.

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Even though I’m turning 40, there is still so much I haven’t figured out. I feel like there is still so much I want to do and learn and try. If anything, my curiosity and sense of adventure is only getting stronger as I feel more confident in what I have accomplished. I’ve failed and failed big, but I’ve learned from it.

When our family went to see Disney’s Zootopia a few weeks ago, I was Blown Away by the message to become who you want to be no matter what people think you are capable of and to keep trying even knowing you might fail.

ZOOTOPIA – Pictured (L-R): Nick Wilde, Judy Hopps. ©2016 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Agent Judy Hopps might now be one of my most favorite Disney characters ever. Despite what everyone around her expects, she grows up and follows her dream only to make huge mistakes along the way. That, my friends, is a well-lived life in a nutshell.

But then we downloaded the Shakira single “Try Everything” and I burst into tears when I fully heard the lyrics for the first time:

That message from Zootopia is everything I want my girls to know. I think about how I try to teach that to them through my own failings. My girls know what a challenge it was for me to complete my two runDisney races. They know I nearly came in last. They also know I went back for year 2 ready to try again.

It’s not just about failing and trying again. It’s about making a mistake and learning and trying again and again and again. THAT is how I want to live my 40s. I want to try new things and make more mistakes and get everything I can out of life and encourage my kids to do the same.

It’s our family’s tradition to do birthday bucket lists on a chalkboard we have in our kitchen. This spring brought a 9 before 9 and a 6 before 6 list for my two babies. We don’t normally make the birthday lists for Tim or myself, but this summer a 40 before 40 is taking center stage on that chalkboard. I’ve got things I need to try before August 29 and I want to share them with you. Stay tuned for tomorrow when I’m {gasp} sharing my list publicly!!