Lessons

Today I celebrate 46 years of life.

Happy Birthday to me.

In honor of this auspicious day, I have decided to share some of the more important lessons I've learned over the years.

1) Things, by their very nature are designed to be used; people, on the other hand, are not. Love and honor all people.

2) All to often, I overvalue what I am not and I undervalue who I truly am. I am a beloved child of God, wholly forgiven, wholly loved. All of my anxiety, my ego, my self-righteousness...those are the pieces of my shadow self that I often empower at great expense to my true self. Learn from my mistake....embrace God's well spring of compassionate love and live a life of love.

3) Going to church every Sunday morning doesn't make someone a Christian, any more than my stepping into a garage makes me a mechanic.

4) Sometimes silence is the best answer.

5) A person never loses by loving, but they will always lose by holding back.

6) The way of truth is always preferable to the way of deceit and dishonesty. In the long run, truth will win out anyway. Don't waste time lieing to yourself, or to others.

7) Jamaican Ska is amazing. Just hearing those wonky rhythms causes my soul rise up and twirl about on tippy toes!

8) All of the best things in life, are not things at all.

Blah, blah, blah....

I think I will end there. I could go on, but what's the point? Most of you've either heard or discovered these things already.

So, instead of pretending I'm deeper and smarter than I really am, I'm going to go inside and have a piece of chocolate pie for breakfast. Before I go, I'll leave you with just one more lesson I've learned....

9) Costco's chocolate pie is sinfully delicious and it is perfectly acceptable as a breakfast food on one's 46th birthday.