The Birthday Philosopher

Birthdays give us an opportunity for self-reflection each year. It's a logical time to evaluate the what's working vs not working in your life. Taking a look at where you are, where you've been, and where you're headed gives rise to any needed mid-course corrections. You can visualize the entire time line and look with less angst at the things that have happened. You observe it, bless it all(good or bad), and release it. Every experience has contributed to the person you are now. You have hopefully learned many valuable things in your process to date!
As you get older, a lot of things happen. Some of the signs of aging are less welcome-the wrinkles, the force of gravity taking it's effect, finding the remote in the refrigerator...Some of the changes are actually improvements over younger days. Things such as being less of a jerk than you used to be! You appreciate life's simple pleasures more. The value of simplifying and traveling light becomes apparent. You embrace the notion of not sweating the small stuff and the realization that more of it IS small.

I am vowing to take myself less seriously and have more FUN!
I am vowing to take myself more seriously and make my life count!

I've been reading Marianne Williamson's new book, The Age of Miracles. This book is all about what most of us would term "midlife". With the longer life spans these days, we're talking 50ish as a midpoint! Ms. Williamson's perspective is that all of our life experience prior to this stage is simply a learning curve. All those experiences, the good, the bad, and the ugly, the love, the marriages, the children, the joys, the sorrows, the mistakes, the triumphs-all those things served to prepare us for now. This stage of life is when, because of all that has come before, we are ready and able to live-REALLY LIVE-the lives we were created for. In other words, we're just getting started at this age!! We've shaken off a lot of the superfluous things that have weighted us down. We've gotten past a lot of obstacles and hang-ups. Our momentum has gathered force. We are finally ready to GO FOR IT!! Hey, that's right in alignment with what I've feeling right now.
LANA'S PREYEAR BUCKET LIST
1. Become more Spiritually fit!
2. Treat my body like the temple that it is-work on health habits like diet, exercise, and rest! Make self-care a daily pursuit.
3. Make people a priority and spend more time with my friends and family as well as reaching out to others. Reintegrate/reconnect with people I have lost touch with. Meet new people.
4. Continue the pursuit of higher education and my passion for writing.
5. Continue to push myself to be open to new experiences. Challenge myself to improve in every way possible, and to grow, and to cherish the goodness of life. No matter what circumstances I find myself in, to remember that I am truly blessed-express my gratitude!

NEXT YEAR: THE BIG 5-0.

I'm sure The Birthday Philosopher will have even more to say then...