It’s my birthday! I’m happy to share that I’m 42 today. I often wonder “How did that happen?”

Every day I become a bit wiser and more content with who I am.  I always use my birthday as an opportunity to reflect on the previous year and look forward to what’s next. So bear with me as I do my annual brain dump of the nuggets and lessons learned over the past year that keep me going. Thanks to so many of you that provided me with this inspiration. Here goes:

  1. Be Yourself. But be your BEST self.
  2. Trust the Process.
  3. Get in the driver’s seat of your life
  4. When you say no to others, you say YES to yourself
  5. Be present.
  6. Live on the edge.
  7. Get out of your comfort zone.
  8. Don’t settle.
  9. Find the gift in everything. There really is a gift although it may take some time to see it.
  10. Surround yourself with people that make you feel alive and happy.
  11. Remember WTF—“Where’s the Focus?” when you are having ADD moments or want to charge forward with a project
  12. Be Real. Be Vulnerable. Be You. It’s so easy to just be who you are.
  13. Be decisive. Limbo is a horrible place to be.
  14. Go for it.
  15. Connect with others. Make that phone call, send that text, give that like, send that note.
  16. Persistent Consistence is what it is all about to make progress.
  17. Morning rituals are the best (meditate, exercise, green smoothies). And yes, sometimes I fall out of my ritual, but it’s ok, I’ll get back there. But I do remember how much I love them when I’m in them and how good it is for me (and everyone else as a result—ha!).
  18. Surprise your kids with being a fun mom. You get the BEST reaction!
  19. Invest time in yourself (Run, Meditate, Educate, Read)
  20. Rally the group. Stay out late. Have fun. Make memories. Drink wine.
  21. Get your palm read.
  22. Say YES to life. New experiences, new friends, new opportunities.
  23. Have “monthly life dates” with your partner.
  24. Just swing the legs, it’s that easy.  (What I tell myself when I don’t want to get out of bed).
  25. Get in the game. Sitting on the sidelines is boring. Engage in all things.
  26. Help others. Be kind. Root for the underdog.
  27. Be brave.
  28. Schedule things that you want to occur because if you don’t schedule, it doesn’t happen.
  29. Keep your cell phone downstairs at night (one of my favorite life improvements)
  30. Diversify your friendships. Hang with people that are so very different from you and challenge you. Wow—your world will become even bigger and better.
  31. You can only change yourself. It’s frustrating but true. But you can nudge, encourage and guide and sometimes you have to just let it go!
  32. Everyone has their own cross to bear. I don’t know anybody that doesn’t have a challenge. It is only through being open with others that others let you in on their life as well.  It’s a beautiful thing when we can all have real conversations. Life is too short to have it any other way.
  33. Hustle! In our house, we say, “Get moving, get hustling, get rock and rolling!”
  34. Be truthful. Be honest. Be real. Be positive. Glass 1/2 full, baby!
  35. If you want change, do something about it.  Nobody likes a complainer. Me especially. I’m told, I say, “I don’t have time for that.”
  36. Playing the victim is a huge pet peeve of mine. Just sayin!
  37. Put yourself out there. Great things happen when you do.
  38. Take a break from screens. It’s good for everyone.
  39. Have fun. Laugh. Play. Be curious. Be child-like. Roll down that hill. Go on that ride. Sing that song. Dance. Blare the music and sing away.
  40. Share your gifts with others.
  41. You can do more than you think you can.
  42. Say I love you (a lot!!).

I could go on and on but that’s it for today. Do any of these resonate with you?

xo,

Colleen