Today You Are You, That Is Truer Than True (or how I celebrated my birthday)

 

48 years ago I burst into being.

It was Easter Sunday, I was two months early and took my mom by surprise. She says I’ve been impatient ever since. They say patience is a virtue, but it’s never been one of mine. Mostly, I’m not too upset about that.

I love birthdays. I always have and I always will.

What’s not to like?

• Cake
• Gifts
• Parties
• Surprises
• Attention
• Celebrations
• Cards in the mail
• Candles and wishes

I love. . .All. Of. It.

48 years.

And what I know without a doubt is I’m here to live out loud. I’m here to live authentically.

And I am here to help you shine.

Some days I feel like a supernova, burning so brightly I may explode before fading from view.

There’s an urgency I’m starting to feel. I’m on a mission to live as fully as George Bernard Shaw put forth in Man and Superman,

“I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no ‘brief candle’ to me. It is sort of a splendid torch which I have a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it over to future generations”.

Today I’m out celebrating a life well lived.

I’m not quite ready to hand over the torch, but I’m happy to share some things I’ve learned along the way.

Celebrating 48

1.  You were born to shine. This is Truth.

2.  You have a gift. You might not acknowledge it, but it’s there, waiting to be shared with the rest of us.

3.  There is no someday. Do something today that will make you feel more alive.

4.  Straight talk trumps all else. Quit beating around the bush.

5.  Getting things done is not rocket science. Just show up and take one action. Do that again tomorrow. Rinse and repeat.

6.  Open your heart and let people in. It’s not as scary as you might think. Nor as difficult.

7.  Writing isn’t that hard. Showing up every day to write is much more challenging.

8.  Your lizard brain is never going away. Stop trying to get rid of it and move on.

9.  Death is the best wake up call. But you don’t have to wait for it to be inspired to action.

10. Be interested in others. It is WAY more fun and energizing than being interesting yourself.

11. It’s not about you.

12. It’s always about you.

13. You can really love someone and still struggle in a relationship.

14. Living true to your values is where the juice in life is.

15. Keep your word when you commit. It says a lot about who you are.

16. You can only think one thought at a time. Stop obsessing and choose a new thought.

17. Cliché warning: Live. Love. Laugh. What more can you ask for?

18. Keeping up with the Jones is NOT useful or productive.

19. Learning from your mentors and heroes IS!

20. Do what you said you would do. It’s not rocket science.

21. Acknowledging where you need to grow does not take away from your expertise in other areas.

22. You stop you. Nothing else.

23. Fall in love more often – with yourself and others.

24. Investing in yourself and your business is essential.

25. Seeing #24 as an investment is a breakthrough!

26. What other people think of you is none of your business.

27. Showing up as a resource for others is more effective than selling yourself.

28. Self care is not an option.

29. Eat food you enjoy and savour it.

30. Unleash your inner Lola.

31. Say what you want. Express yourself.

32. Your life consists of what you’re currently tolerating. Want something new? Stop tolerating that shit.

33. Your lizard brain does not speak the truth.

34. Some days, the best thing to do is stop.

35. Giving your best isn’t for the faint of heart.

36. You were born brilliant.

37. Give up thinking outside the box. Newsflash: There is no box.

38. To be excellent means you must be an artist. Thank you Seth Godin!

39. None of us is as smart as all of us. Be awesome with others and magic happens.

40. Dr. Seuss is right most of the time, “I like nonsense; it wakes up the brain cells.”

41. How you do anything is how you do everything. Don’t blow it off because it’s cliché.

42. Love is everywhere. All the time. Open your eyes.

43. Be yourself. It takes less energy.

44. Eliminate the gap between your work and your play.

45. Be remarkable. More people will talk about you!

46. You can be right or you can be happy. Thank you Wayne Dyer.

47. Be still and listen. In that space, you will hear you.

‎48. Be grateful. The rest will follow.