58 Years of Fierce – Capturing Grace

Rockefeller Gastro Pub, Hermosa Beach, CA

“There are two great days in a person’s life – the day we are born and the day we discover why.” – William Barclay 

I’ll let you in on a little secret. I was never one to celebrate birthdays. At least not my birthday. I loved making a huge fuss over my children’s birthdays. I got a kick out of planning over the top parties for friends and family. Yet, when my birthday came, I always felt a little sadness. It almost felt wrong to celebrate.

Today, I turn 58. 58 years young. 58 years of Fierce. 58 years of lessons. 58 years of life experience under my belt. 58 years accumulating hard-earned wisdom in this crazy game called life. I’ve also experienced a rebirth, a new life and a new way of looking at life. This second act has given me a fresh pair of rose-colored glasses, a new empowering perspective, to see both myself and the life I had to live to arrive at this present moment. This perfect moment.

What I know for sure (wink, wink Oprah) is that I’ve been given a gift, a second chance at life, at living life my way, by my rules. I know that life is challenging. I know that life is beautiful. I know life isn’t a straight line. Life zigs and it zags. Life goes up and life goes down. I know that the harder I fall, the higher I bounce. I know when darkness comes, the light will find its way back. I know the light is far more powerful than the darkness. I know love can overcome anything. I know the difference between being and doing. I know that truth and reality aren’t one and the same.

I know that being a good friend begins with ourselves. I know the relationship we have with ourselves is the most important relationship we will ever have. I know that self-love is the most important love of all. I know that being kind surpasses being important. I know that being Fierce has nothing to do with force. Being Fierce is living life with heartfelt intensity. I know that a life of meaning is a life of purpose. I know that a life of purpose is the only life I can live. I know I’ve touched a lot of hearts and lifted a lot of spirits. I know when it’s my time to go, I’ll have left this world a brighter place.

I know that being perfect isn’t being real. I know that being real is being vulnerable. I know that being vulnerable is being courageous. I know that being courageous has nothing to do with brute force or physical strength. I know that true power is the exact opposite of force.

I know that life is short. I know that life is painful. I know that love requires risk. I know a broken heart can heal. I know that when it heals, it’s stronger than it was before. I know the amount of grief you feel when losing a loved one equals the amount of love you felt for another human. I know that romantic love is not the same as true love.

I know that beliefs come and go. I know that we tell ourselves a lot of stories, some true, some not. I know the way we speak to ourselves is far more important than speaking up for ourselves. I know that nothing can teach us what life experience can. I know that perception is everything. I know giving is more important than receiving. I know that being open to receiving is the only way we can receive.

I know that life is life and it must be lived. I know the only time we ever have is the present moment. I know the power of the present moment. I know the present moment is where our future is created.

I know that celebrating ourselves is celebrating the life we’ve been given. I know that birthdays are far more than gobs of presents and yummy cake. I know that birthdays lead us from one year to the next. Like a string of pearls – a continuum – an evolution. Birthdays are a time of celebration. Birthdays are a time of reflection. I know the longer the life, the greater the opportunity for wisdom and evolution.

I know that Midlife is the most powerful time of life. I know Midlife is full of Moxie. I know I have Moxie. I know I have wrinkles. I know I have smile lines. I know I earned them. I know my 20-year-old body was thinner and tighter. I know I wouldn’t trade my 58-year young self for anything.

I know it’s time to live life full out. I know it’s time to stop holding back. I know it’s time to celebrate – the big things, the little things and everything in between. I know what it means to be Fierce, to live Fierce, and to love Fierce. I know what it means to be grateful – grateful for you – grateful for the love and the new life you have given me.

Cheers Beauties. Happy Birthday to me!