It sounds like a zip code doesn't it? 20451. It's the number of days I have lived so far. 20451 awakenings, 20451 chances to make a difference, to bring a smile to someone's face, to live to the best of my ability. I don't have a checkered past, a rather tame existance in many respects, but there are things I have done that Iwish I had not done and things that I didn't do that I wish I had done. But if all these other things had occured (or not occured) would I be the person I am today? I am extremely happy with the way my life has turned out so far. Did I stumble into it or was it carefully (or sometimes unknowingly) created step by step, though both hasty and well thought out decisions.
Life carves out a path for us as we make our journey. Detours and sidetracks full of shiny things entice us. So is our life created through a series of yes or nos, do or don'ts? I am reminded of the concept of "free will" that was drilled into us back in my Catholic school days. And now we are bombarded with the ideas of visualization, the thoughts become things concept and the law of attraction popularized by The Secret
Life is a mystery that we will never know the answers to. But one of the gifts and blessings of aging is that we gain insight and wisdom into life. If we pay attention each and every one of our 20451 +/- days, life presents us with answers. Not necessarily the answers, but our own answers. And that in itself is part of the wisdom gained. There are no right or wrong answers, there are only your answers. "What is right for one soul may not be right for another. It may mean having to stand on your own and do something strange in the eyes of others.” ~ Eileen Caddy
Looking back over my 20451 days, I can see major crossroads where decisions were made that brought me to this point. Yet I also see times when some divine universal force (call it what you may) presented me with an unplanned, unsought, opportunity that I had to choose whether to accept or decline. The question is: "Did life present me with the opportunity because I was prepared, or was it totally random?" I read this Abraham Lincoln quote the other day, "I will study and prepare myself and someday my chance will come."
Are you still with me? The point I am trying to make is that after 20451 days I have gained some wisdom into life. There are things that I know or understand now, that I did not know 10,000 or even 5,000 days ago. The certainty with which I know these things gives me peace of mind, courage and confidence.
- the divine universe presents us with what we ask for, we just don't always recognize it when it arrives
- if you don't know what you want, you won't get it
- a decision becomes the right decision by what you do before and after you make the decision
- opportunities are usually buried under hard work
- trust that what you need will be presented to you and it will probably not be what you thought you needed or in the form you thought you needed
It is this knowledge that carries me through each day. And it will carry me into the next 10,000 and hopefully even 15,000+ days. The next year of my life will revolve around the decisions I have made this year. At this point I do not know if they are the right decisions, but they feel right and this I know, I will live my days so as to make them right.
As is typical of my posts, I didn't know this was what I was going to write about when I started. But now that it is written I trust that it is what I was supposed to write today. Now I am going to be bold and ask you to give me a birthday gift. It will cost you nothing and I will cherish it forever. It's a simple gift, the gift of a comment. Please leave a comment and share a bit of the wisdom you have gained this year. And as promised, I will give one of you a gift. As all birthday presents are, it's a surprise.
20495, how wonderful a thought. It is precious to reach this point in my life where I feel I now have the right to focus on myself. And finally crossing the Tiber, has brought me joy, excitement and contentment. Happy Birthday Lesley, may your days be filled with those activities that bring you even more wisdom.
I like your five bullet points! My observation (after only a few days less than you on the earth) is that karma exists – always take the time to do something nice for someone else, and it will come back.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday, Lesley.
Recently my thoughts center on two words, grace and laughter. The first is my newest approach to everyday living, gently embracing the ups and downs. The second word, laughter is the medicine of living. A good laugh with a loved one always puts a bounce in my step.
And behind door # 20664 is aches & pains. LOL Only some days, other days I feel great! love your syle Lesley and watching you on Quilting arts.
From a fellow Scorpio (17th), hope you have a very happy day (16,423). Life is all about choices which lead us in different directions. Let’s make the most of each and every day and cherish what we have. PS Hope we can get TAP downunder soon – it sounds like a wonderful product.
Happy Birthday, Leslie! Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
I have found it difficult to accept change in my life. One of the things that has helped me along the way is the affirmation “I maintain balance amidst change.”
Many Blessings to you in the coming year.
-Grace
Happy Birthday! What a wonderful reflection on where you’ve been and are going. As for me, one of my realizations this year is that everything you go through in life – good or bad – brings you to where you are in this moment, and there’s no room for regret if you approach everything with a sense of gratitude.
This year, I learned how precious life really is. I lost my father. He had bone cancer and heart issues, but he said they would never beat him. He was right-instead, he fell from a ladder painting a garage one week after my 55th birthday. I lost my mom at the same time, although I did not realize it-she has Alzheimer’s, and without the love of her life, things are just not the same. She looks for him everyday.
I also learned how important is is to tell people you appreciate them. So, thank you for all of the inspiration and for the thoughtful posts on your own losses. They really help!
chris p
20105…
Could you ever have imagined all that we’ve seen and done in these years?
Happy Birthday!
“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”
e.e.cummings
Happy Mutual Birthday! My number is bigger than yours…a whopping 22281. And on 11/11/2011 I will be 64, a good baby-boomer, Beatle-loving number.
Your observations about “free will” remind me of one of my favorite books, Steinbeck’s “East of Eden”. The theme is about “free will” vs predestiny. “Timshel” is the Hebrew word for “thou mayest”. I, too, had a good Catholic school drilling.
I’m also reminded of an Oprah truism, Luck happens when opportunity meets preparation.
Well, thank you for your insight today. Wisdom and peace are the gifts of age.
Happy Birthday
What a lovely post, it gives one a lot to ponder on.
Happy (belated) Birthday!
Until later,
Judy N
Happy Belated Birthday. I recently started following your blog and I am enjoying it. I particularly liked this point that you made: a decision becomes the right decision by what you do before and after you make the decision
Thank you for the reminder. I can be quite unforgiving of myself when I feel that I’ve made a wrong decision.
I think the lesson I’ve learned this past year is that I should pay attention to the people I surround myself by. Life’s too short to have people in your life who don’t influence it in a positive direction.
happy birthday! many more! the wisdom that I can share is only that one should never stop learning…
Happy Birthday Lesley! I was introduced to a wonderful parable,
The Parable of the Trapeze –http://www.earthstewards.org/ESN-Trapeze.asp — my favorite phrases are– “In my heart of hearts I know that, for me to grow, I must release my grip on this present, well-known bar and move to the new one” and “I soar across the dark void of “the past is gone, the future is not yet here.”
Have a lovely day!
My number is 23,360+ days. What an interesting way to look at one’s life. I have lived my life totally without plan. If a door opened, I walked through it; even if another door slammed shut when I got there, I always looked for another one. At one point, I noticed that I could trace my exact location at that moment back through every other decision I had made – life made sense. Now I realize I don’t have another 23,000 days ahead of me and I get anxious: so much more I want to do and so little time! When my mom died, my dad remarried, and he and my step-mom celebrated monthliversaries because at 64, they knew they didn’t have much time left. They got in 240 mothliversaries before my dad died – all of which is to say: enjoy the moment because the end-point is irrelevant.
Happy 20451 Day! I hope you spend the day doing the things you love with those you love. Thank you for the gift of your blog and the reflections of today. Cheers.
Don’t wait for retirement to do what you want. DO IT now because you may not make it till retirement.
Happy Birthday, Lesley:
I’ve learned, in my 56 years, that I am still learning, and that is a wonderful blessing to know that the capacity to grow and stretch is still available to me if I open my eyes and heart and mind to change. I’ve learned that the sadness of one day or week or even month does not necessarily mean that the sadness can’t be broken, and the joy shine through. I’ve learned that everything goes better with a prayer before beginning work. All the best on your special day…..
Mary in San Diego
Happy Birthday, Lesley. I have learned this year that sometimes you must take control of your situation, hold your breath, and go for it. WHEW!!
Hi,
I was 71 last month and I don’t think I really want to know how many days have gone by. Why is it that by the time you really learn the important stuff there aren’t that many days left? But I do intend to live them as fully as I can.
Happy Birthday
Thornton Wilder said, “Do all human beings realize life while they live it? Every, every minute?” The answer is, sadly, no. But the effort to try and do it is so worthwhile! Life is too short to ignore the beauty which surrounds us.
Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
I have learned that it is challenging to teach a teenager to drive. You must have patience and provide encouragement…and try to remain calm.
Wow. One always gets what one needs if we are open and paying attention. I have finally learned that and so much more and I am 55. My path has been filled with many things and I used to look back and think I had wasted time and abilities and oh dear when will I ever get doing what I am supposed to be doing. I am on my second go round of love and all that goes with it and it was this man that said to me “You are just a late bloomer” and indeed I am. All my battles and sorrows, accomplishments and joys have been getting me ready to accept me and do what is needed to fully embrace each day. I’m not sure yet where I’m going and I often skin my knees when I fall but I have had a wonderful middle life so far to balance out an over worked and self neglected younger life. I pick the joys from the past and based on “The Secret” that some of you mentioned I just won’t let myself have negative thoughts. They do too much damage and when I realize they are there I journal of walk or art them out of my mind. With art in mind I thank you Lesley for inspiration and the joy of your blog. Happy Birthday and joy all year every year. Deborah
Happy Birthday to you! At the ripe old age of 51, I too have learned many things, but the main thing is (and on the bad days, I still can struggle with this) that there are “good” days and “bad” days. Yes, embrace the “good” ones, but learn to love the “bad” ones, too, for they teach us so much about ourselves. Take care!
My number is 20392 without any leap years 🙂
This year I’ve learned that I can’t control every aspect of my life. Sometimes things happen and we just have to accept them.
Happy Birthday!
I used to be an unhappy & aggressive driver, ornery & unyielding (literally).
Until about a year ago I realized how stupid I was being and decided to drive one car at a time. Now I apply that to more than just driving, because in my old age (59 this September), I am finally accepting some things are just not under my control.
Yipppee! I am so much better off.
All my best,
Joanie
Happy Birthday Lesley. I have learned to be creative and seek health solutions trying Western, Eastern and holistic medicine. I have learned to listen to my body. It’s been a tough year with lots of ups and down. God took a family member from us and will be giving us a new one in May, 2009. I have learned to appreciate what I’ve been given and to give back whenever I can.
Wow, I figured my number and it is 24184. Happy birthday and many more. I loved your post, it has encouraged me to look more closely at what life presents to me. To be open to what I see and the courage to choose to act on it. I am a fledging art quilt artist and mixed media artist working to find my unique style and my voice. Thanks for the inspiration.
The lesson I come back to over and over again is that nothing is constant except change. Because each time I get to a place that feels like equilibrium, some new something becomes present that requires learning or adapting or (the one I hate most) starting all over from the beginning. I suppose when I learn to expect and embrace the changes and forget how hard I worked to get to where I was before I got there, the changes will be more embraceable and less damnable….
Happy Birthday!
Edie
Happy Birthday a few days early, Leslie. I turn 44 on Sunday and here is my wisdom that I’m actually in the process of learning now. I am learning to accept the truth of ALL of me, not just the part that is nice, kind, pretty, and packaged.. but all the “bad” thoughts and feelings that I’ve tried to deny were there because they were ugly. As I have been purging and really looking at the raw, hard truth, I am being freed. I sense space inside my soul opening up and making room for something good to move in. Truth really does set you free, even if the truth is gut wrenching to look at.
Happy Birthday, Lesley! What a wonderful post! After having lived 19090 days myself, I can relate to what you said! When I was younger, it seemed that every year moved so slowly and I couldn’t wait for the next year to happen. Today my life seems to move at warp speed. I’ve learned to embrace life and I try to be happy with each day as it comes. My bit of wisdom is “Live in the Moment” and be thankful for all in your life that is good.
happy birthday! i am so glad to see other women embrace the freedom and wisdom that comes with being older. i am so much happier, more comfortable, more confident at nearly 18250 and look forward to it just getting better. your 5 points are, to me, about faith- and i love that getting older has given me more reasons to have faith rather than destroying it.
Ever since I was turned onto The Secret, I too have felt a turn in how I view the word. I think my biggest lesson this year is that you can not force your children to do what you want. Instead, you must let them discover things on their own; you can only guide them. (Mom of a very independent 3 year old)
17,839… that’s me. I am going to print your list and post it as a daily reminder… I do have four words I say on a daily basis – abundance, creativity, commitment and grace. I have these things – and life is truly gets better as long as I think positively and make things happen! Thoughts become action. Happy Birthday, Lesley! Jamie V in MT
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How could I not wish one of my favorite instructors ( I found your lalas land website and was inspired to start my own series of “artifacts” that continue today.) I am so lucky to have been able to take several classes from you and I really enjoyed them all! Your calmness and sense of presence always amazed me and your post today was SPOT ON! Happy Birthday to you (whenever!)
I have finally understood that I should embrace the good days when they happen. You just never know when something not so good will arrive. I’m gonna figure out my number on my birthday in Feb. That will be easier. *S* I just know that I have had many more days than you.
Happy Birthday!! My # is 20805..I seem to like song lyrics to describe my journey..When I was 25 I thought ” Is this all there is?”..But the best for me is…”You can’t always get what you want…you get what you Need ” !!..
Lesley, what a wonderful chance to leave my second comment, ever, the first was to Nina who feels like a southern sister, but you are the one who got my love affair with fabric going quiet a while ago. I’ve never been able to take a class but look forward to checking your blog almost daily,and learned so much from the fabric memory books.It gave me a rush to see the quote on your piece at the top of this page by Elen Phillpotts, I love it and have had it in my “sayins note book” for a long time. I am excited about the coming days for all of us.