Whelp. That's it, Goodbye 46, Hello 47! Bring on the Next Few Years 'til I'm 50!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means I earn commissions from my sponsored links or I make money when readers (you) purchase items through my links. Your purchase allows me to continue working as a stay-at-home dad who moonlights as a farmer and a musician. Needless to say, this post contains affiliate links.

Today is my birthday.

And although I don’t normally celebrate my birthdays, I feel like that has to change in a way. I have to stop my tradition of sleeping through the day and just reach the next day when it’s no longer my birthday.

I am officially 47 years old today.

Forty-seven.

A Brief History of Birthdays (Because I’m a Writer and I Can’t Help Myself)

Before I dive into my feelings — and yes, I have many — let me geek out for a second about birthdays, because honestly, I had no idea how deep this rabbit hole went.

Birthdays as a celebration didn’t start with cake and balloons.

Ancient Egyptians were among the first to mark a ruler’s coronation day as their “birth” into divine status.

The ancient Greeks offered round, candle-lit cakes to Artemis, the moon goddess — that’s where birthday candles actually come from.

The idea spread through Rome, and eventually the early Christian church frowned on birthday celebrations entirely, considering them pagan.

It wasn’t until the 19th century — around the same time the Industrial Revolution made sugar cheap and accessible — that birthday celebrations started becoming popular for everyday people, not just royalty.

And “Happy Birthday to You,” the most recognized song in the English language, was adapted from a classroom greeting song called “Good Morning to All,” written by Mildred and Patty Hill in 1893.

So the next time someone sings you “Happy Birthday,” just know: you’re participating in centuries of human history, mythology, and an accidental classroom singalong.

You’re welcome.

What Turning 47 Is Supposed to Feel Like

Turning 47 this year isn’t a “milestone” birthday for me.

It’s just… 47.

Now they say that your late 40s are actually a profound period of self-awareness. Studies in psychology — including the famous “U-shaped happiness curve” research — suggest that happiness tends to dip in midlife but begins climbing again right around this age.

The stress of trying to “prove yourself” starts to fade.

You become more selective about your energy.

You stop performing and start being.

At 47, your body is changing — metabolism slows, recovery takes longer, sleep becomes a priority not a luxury.

But mentally?

Emotionally?

Many people report that their late 40s are when they finally feel genuinely grounded.

Hmmm…

I do have a lot to be grateful for though. More than I sometimes admit when life feels heavy.

Margaux. I wish I could be a better husband to my amazing wife. Looking back, everything I’ve done in life up to this point was mostly for her, to please her. I strove to become better, earn more, be able to provide. I’m not the best provider yet but I am working every day to try and be the man she deserves. I fall short so many times. I wish I didn’t. I wish I could be worthy of her.
Lyle. My son. My reason. At 47, he’s about 5 years old — growing fast, learning fast, and somehow the most fascinating human being I’ve ever met. Watching him grow is the greatest privilege of my life. I just wish I can hold my anger and sadness back so that it doesn’t affect him as much as it does. I’m not a perfect dad. Far from it. But I wish I can be better for him. A better dad. And a better husband to my wife.
Zywave. I started as a Local SEO Specialist back in January 2024, and I just celebrated my second year there. I prayed hard for that job. I deleted mobile games from my phone the day I got hired as a quiet promise to God that I wouldn’t waste the opportunity. And I haven’t. That job has helped me sustain my family, pay off debts, and build real financial stability. I intend to stay there. My plan is to work at Zywave until Lyle is 18 — which means I’ll be pushing 59 or 60 by then. And honestly? I’m okay with that. Stability matters. Consistency matters. Showing up every day matters.
My blogs and creative work. ChipCanonigo.com, FilipinoWriters.com, MusikaWabad.com, HayopEtc.com, Biyernes.com, and Jectra.com — these sites are my creative heartbeat. My band, AcidRadius, is my musical soul. All of it reminds me that I’m more than just a job title.
The farm. If there’s one place where things make sense, it’s the farm. All I have to do is hold on much longer. Even if no one believes in it. Just hold on to it and it’ll eventually pay off. Just hold on.
This life I’ve built, imperfect and all.

But if we’re really being honest, I’m more genuinely excited to turn 50.

Three years from now, that’ll be the milestone to look forward to.

I can’t wait.

Because when I’m 50, Lyle will be 8 or 9 years old. Old enough to have real conversations. Old enough to go on adventures. Old enough to watch his old man embarrass him in public — a rite of passage I’m very much looking forward to.

And when I’m 50, I’ll be celebrating my 9th Wedding Anniversary.

Six years in as of February 2026, and the road has not been easy.

But love rarely is.

I married Margaux on February 20, 2020 — right before the world changed.

Whatever the future holds, the commitment I made that day still means something to me.

I want to grow old with the woman I married. I want to devote the rest of my days being present with her — understanding her, serving her, being the person she needs even on the days she doesn’t see it that way.

They say that’s weakness.

I don’t really care.

That’s what I believe love actually looks like when the honeymoon phase is long gone.

It’s a choice you make over and over again.

The Pros and Cons of Turning 47 (Being Honest with Myself)

PROS	CONS
More emotionally grounded and self-aware	Metabolism is slower — everything hits differently
Clearer sense of what actually matters	Recovery from physical activity takes longer
Less concerned with what others think	Sleep issues start creeping in
Financial decisions are smarter and steadier	Some dreams feel further away (but not impossible)
Gratitude hits deeper and feels more real	The mirror is not always your friend
Your humor gets better. Much better.	Joints. Just… joints.

There’s Still So Much I Want to Do

47 is not a finish line. Not even close. I still have a list that keeps growing, and I refuse to apologize for it.

Things I Still Want to Accomplish:

Get healthier. This is non-negotiable. I need to be around for Lyle. I’ve been walking 45 minutes every morning — the only quiet window I have before the day pulls me in every direction. I want to eat better. Move more. Weigh less. Not for vanity, but for longevity. My son needs his dad around.
Get a Sulcata tortoise. If you know me, you know my love for animals runs deep. A Sulcata has been on my list for a long time. Big, slow, ancient, and absolutely majestic. Someday.
Get my hands on a Donner Hush I guitar. A silent practice guitar that won’t wake the household at 2 AM when inspiration strikes? Yes. Please. Immediately.
Go back to school — maybe for Agriculture, maybe to become a Veterinarian. When the finances free up and time permits, I’d love to formalize what I already know and love about farming and animals.
Keep building. More blog posts. More YouTube videos. More music with AcidRadius. More stories written and published under FilipinoWriters.com. There’s still so much to say.

To 47 and Beyond!

I’m not the same man I was at 37. Or 27. And I’m grateful for that.

At 47, I’ve learned that life doesn’t hand you clean chapters. Sometimes endings and beginnings overlap and you have to sit in that uncomfortable middle space until things become clear.

I’ve learned that showing up — for your wife and kid, for your work, for your craft, for yourself — matters more than grand gestures.

And I’ve learned that the years ahead aren’t something to fear. They’re something to build.

So here’s to 47. Here’s to the slow walk toward 50. Here’s to Lyle turning 8. Here’s to nine years of marriage. Here’s to the farm, the music, the writing, the tortoise I don’t have yet, and the guitar I’m still saving for.

Here’s to getting healthier, getting wiser, and — on most days — getting it right.