50 Things I Know To Be True... (Part 1)
After almost 50 trips around the sun, I’ve learned and grown a lot and found a number of things to be true in my life. These are the first ten of my own personal 50 truths I’ll be sharing this month in the weeks leading up to my 50th birthday on 11/28.
Some are lighter and more playful, others are more serious and the result of going through some painful growth experiences. I hope a few (or more!) resonate with you in some way and perhaps spark you to make a list like this of your own…
1. Dark chocolate and coffee are essential food groups (at least in my world!). This is my new favorite dark chocolate and this dark roast coffee is pure liquid heaven (or “nectar of the gods” as my friend John would say!).
2. People will not always be loving and loyal. Bless them and… move on. This concept is from the work of David Richo, but I’ve had my own experiences of it a number of times. While it’s painful when people we love pull away or betray us I’ve learned not to take it as personally as I used to. Sometimes relationships end – either for good reasons or for reasons we may never know or understand.
3. If it’s not a 100% “yes”, than it’s a “no.” I do my best to slow down, tune in, and listen to my inner guidance when I need to make a decision. I usually end up regretting it when I say “yes” if I feel any ambivalence.
4. Take the time to celebrate. The little things, the big things… even the things that didn’t turn out the way you wanted them to. I love to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and other milestones, but years ago I started celebrating less obvious things as well. For instance, my husband and I went through many years of infertility treatment and each time we completed a cycle, before we knew the outcome, we would go out for a special dinner and celebrate the time and effort (it was a LOT!) we’d just infused into possibly getting pregnant. Even when something doesn’t work out the way I’d hoped it would, I do something to honor and celebrate giving it my best.
5. You will never regret making or taking the time to do the things you love. I make time every day to get out in nature, spend time with my husband and our pups, and connect with people who are dear to me. I love to travel and explore new places. And I love to create: I write, make collages, make playlists, make my own cards and create new content for my businesses every week. All of these things nourish me.
6. There will always be challenges in life and it’s up to me how I respond to them. I always have a choice, which feels empowering. For instance, when I’m angry I can shoot off the snarky email (been there, done that – it does not feel good later) and say something I’ll regret or I can take a walk and cool down and then decide how to proceed. This applies to any situation in life.
7. A good cry is cleansing and cathartic. Letting the tears flow when I’m sad, depressed or even angry is like opening up a release valve. Years ago I learned that there is a physiological basis to this. Some research shows that emotional tears help us shed stress hormones and other toxins that build up when we’re stressed. And crying can stimulate the production of endorphins, our body’s natural pain killer and “feel-good” hormones. No wonder I almost always feel better after a good cry!
8. Being vulnerable is one of the strongest, most connecting things I allow myself to do. It takes great courage to be vulnerable and to share my fears and weaknesses with others (and this is not something that was modeled for me growing up – I have to really work with that part of myself that wants to present “all put together” and act like everything is “fine” even when there’s big stuff going down in my world!!). Being honest and authentic, sharing my deepest truth with others (who have earned the right to hear it)… these are what has opened up some of the deepest, most heartfelt connections in my life.
9. It is always worth it to be true to who you are. Our society’s expectations, other people’s expectations, family expectations, etc. These will always be there to some extent. Taking the time to be clear on your values and where you want to put your precious time and energy is invaluable. When I stay connected to my deepest values and let my inner compass guide me, they rarely steer me in the wrong direction.
10. Making the effort to stay in touch with your friends is so, so worth it. I adore my diverse, wide circle of friends. Each friendship is a beautiful thread from different chapters of my life, woven into a rich tapestry that keeps expanding over time . The love and connection and history I share with each of them is precious.
Thanks for taking the time to read. And do share which ones, if any, you relate to the most!
Stay tuned for the next ten soon…
xo
Mindy