Birthday Delights - Cake, Cards and Contemplations

It's my birthday month!

This season for me, is typically filled with delight and a yearning for ways to celebrate life. I never outgrew the euphoria associated with my birthday, and honestly hope I never do. 

Weeks before, I harp on to myself and anyone who cares to listen about how special everything is during birthday month.  And yes, I get many, many eye rolls 😊

Climbing the mid-forties is an exhilarating phase for me. Different parts of who I am are coming together. It is a messy but very rewarding metamorphosis. In this evolved me, I feel very grown up but more light and playful at the same time.

I appreciate who I am more and have a better understanding of what I have been through. Sounds simple but there is so much to read between the lines of that statement. 

The notion of self-acceptance and self-love can feel so misplaced in a world that places undue importance on  and measuring our self-worth through the gaze of others.  Soon our lives are hijacked chasing clouds to please everyone else but ourselves... it's tragic and depleting to find that we hinge our lives and  perspectives to the whims of others. Unfortunately, so many of us remain trapped in this way and are eclipsed from our own unique greatness. 

But ahh, when you learn two old wisdoms on how to lead an artful life; one is learning to accept yourself as you are and two that change is inevitable. Setting ourselves free from the shackles of clinging or being averse to people, memories and things is a sure step to liberation. Embracing a sense of equanimity offers us the calm we need to truly be in every present moment - whether they are pleasant or not because either way these states are impermanent.

These lifelong lessons help me to switch gears and aspire to prioritise a check in with myself as a start. And in turn it is supporting my pursuit of life and the desire to connect and belong. Its been an incredible ride.

And so while I am still that girl thrilled by the thought of cake and cards ...this year has some  depth and nuance.

My path of returning to wholeness is by observing and appreciating the reclaimed parts of myself - hidden and abandoned in order to survive. Life is too precious to be restrained by fear and pain... gently learning  to say every day to those scarred and scared parts of me, “It's safe to come out, we are stronger now...” is my  most precious gift and blessing this birthday.

So, Happy Alive Day and I wish for you better things ahead...