I've probably used the photo you see for a different post, but I assure you, this essay is not that essay. The day this writing goes live will be the day after my fifty-sixth birthday. I love birthdays, so I'm probably feeling pretty grand right now (unless I over-indulged on sugary foods, which is also a possibility -- when will I learn!?). I might even feel as terrific as I did after I FINALLY got that hatchet to stick to the target on our family axe-throwing adventure. Note my face of surprise and delight above!
But I'm not writing this post on my birthday. I'm writing it much earlier when I'm still fifty-five and not feeling great because I have pneumonia...and I think it's at least partly my own dang fault.
Obviously, I understand that viruses and bacteria cause illness, not over-exertion and open windows. However, when I had a pretty bad cold in February, instead of taking it easy and doing all the things I should have done to mend, I pushed myself. "Mind over matter" wasn't a smart mantra. I went jogging. I played ice hockey. I kept going until I couldn't. And I've never felt so lousy.
Sometimes, I write these posts to share ideas with you, but today's is equally about reminding myself. Wisdom is supposed to come with age, right? But that's only true if I remember the lessons I gather along the way. Maybe fifty-six will be the year of listening to my body and giving it what it needs to feel better so that fifty-seven through one-hundred-twenty are the most fun years of my life.
I hope you listen to your body this week and forever. Please share your responses in the comments.
Or maybe 56 will be the year of giving yourself a little grace when you don’t manage to perfectly embody every lesson you learn on the first try. Because nobody can, but you do great already. Happy birthday!
Thanks and yes, giving grace sounds like a good (and necessary) plan!