Happy (Re)Birthday

I'm at the dawn of a new cycle and the destruction is in full effect. Over the past couple of years, I've deliberately exposed myself to new experiences that have revealed new truths and understandings about myself and the world I inhabit. As I embark on the second half of this current decade in life, I'm taking stock of some of the lessons I've learned. Some have been covered in previous blog entries, but I've decided to bring them all together in this one post for future reference and guidance. Feel free to read some of the truths I've come across and share some of your own.

Lessons to Guide Continual Rebirth

Continue exposing yourself to new experiences and expand your knowledge and understanding of yourself and the world you inhabit.

Take calculated risks and reap the ensuing bounty.

Dare to make power moves in your career. Ambition and integrity need not be mutually exclusive as long as the altruistic pursuit of elevating your profession is your guiding principle.

Embrace leadership in all that it entails. Build upon successful strategies and learn from failures.

Stay positive at all costs, distance yourself from negative people, and maintain equanimity irrespective of your surroundings.

Express your opinions, assert your needs, and never go out of your way to reinforce tenuous relationships with fair-weather companions. True friends will remain in your corner unconditionally and will be more easy to detect once all the "pollution" is purged from your inner circle.

While separating the wheat from the chaff in your relationships, adopt the same ethos in your quest for truth. Be less reactionary to sensationalistic "illumination," while still remaining alert to conspicuous patterns and uncanny "coinkydinks."

Creativity is not limited to artistic endeavors. Take a fresh approach to tackling problems if the traditional way is ineffective. Embrace challenges where the solutions aren't readily apparent at the outset.

Rebirth is an eternal process where faltering may be commonplace. Don't beat yourself up for falling short of perfection. Make light of the situation, don't take yourself so seriously, and always be prepared to laugh at your inevitable "senior moments."

To maintain a positive outlook in spite of the setbacks and frustrations, enrich your life with enjoyment wherever you can find it. Because at the end of the day, you're only given one life--so celebrate it! Indulge in a favorite treat, spend quality time with your true friends, and every once in a while, give yourself permission to be corny and "lose control when the rubber band starts to jam."

Care to celebrate with me?