50 Things I Know to Be True - Part 2
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 second 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 (the first ten can be found here.).
Let me know which of these resonate for you, too.
11. At the end of my life what will matter most is how well I lived and loved. I know this deep in my bones. I can’t imagine laying on my deathbed and money or success being the things I value most. I think it will be those tiny strings of moments spent connecting with people I love, the ways I showed up in relationship and the time I took to do things that were deeply meaningful (to me). I do my best to make choices each day that align with these things and honor my deepest values. As the wise spiritual teacher Jack Kornfield says: “What matters is how we live. This is why it is so difficult and so important to ask this question of ourselves: ‘Am I living my path fully, do I live without regret?’ so that we can say on whatever day is the end of our life, ‘Yes, I have lived my path with heart.’ “
12. Time spent in nature is always nourishing. I go for a walk or a hike most days, and when I’m traveling I try to spend as much time outdoors as much as possible. Walking by the river or a lake or a pond, on trails in the mountains, along the ocean, or even up and down the streets in my neighborhood… it all feeds my spirit. Being outside and held by the sights and sounds and smells of nature helps get me out of my head, into my body, and connects me with the beauty in the world.
13. No one will ever say on their deathbed, “I wish I’d spent more time scrolling on Facebook, Instagram or Tik Tok.” Enough said, right?
14. Nourishment goes beyond the food we put into our body. Deep belly laughs, deep breaths, time in nature, meditation, restful sleep, travel, qi gong. When I think of nourishment it includes, but also extends way beyond, the food I put into my body. I believe that feeding my mind with inspiring words and feeding my spirit with quiet, contemplative practices is equally as important as eating nourishing foods to stay healthy.
15. Love is one of the most powerfully healing forces that exists. As I get older, I rest in this knowing more and more. Feeling seen and truly loved for who I am is one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received.
16. Our bodies are incredibly wise. The cells of our bodies carry so much wisdom. When I am truly tuned in and paying attention to the signals my body send me, I almost always receive the guidance I need. It tells me when to slow down, when I’m hungry, when my stress level is getting too high, etc. Over the years I’ve learned to heed its wisdom and listen more closely to it.
17. Travel makes life much richer. It opens our minds to new ways of thinking and being in the world and has also taught me a lot about “going with the flow” and being patient. Immersing myself in a new place or a new culture opens my eyes to what a vast, diverse, beautiful world we live in. Even if I’m just taking a weekend trip to a new place a couple hours away, the travel and time away from my normal routine almost always offers me a fresh perspective. (As I type these words, I’m sitting in a little casita on the northwestern coast of Costa Rica and appreciating the chance to immerse in the “pura vida” culture here!)
18. My life would not be the same without a daily dose of “Vitamin G.” Each day when I wake up I give thanks for being alive another precious day and reflect on what I feel grateful for from the last 24 hours. Gratitude is woven into the fabric of my life and helps me remember what is going well and all the people, places, animals and experiences I appreciate. I can’t emphasize enough how transformative this practice has been in my life over the last 25 years. It’s helped me weather times of depression, loss and transition with greater ease. Even during the most challenging of times, I can always find reasons to be grateful.
19. Don’t postpone joy. Do the things on your bucket list. Eat the cake. Spend time with people who light you up and make you laugh. Find a way to take that trip you keep dreaming about. Watch Ted Lasso (if you haven’t already! And if you have… you can watch it again and again… like I will be this winter). Every few years I make a “joy list” as a reminder of things I can do to boost my spirits when needed. ;-) Think about what would be on your joy list and how you might bring these things into your life more often.
20. Worrying about what others think of me = wasted time. Thank you Byron Katie for teaching me that what others think of me is none of my business. My self-worth no longer depends on external validation the way it did when I was younger. I cherish who I am and love myself regardless of what other people say or think about me. As a recovering “people pleaser” it’s been quite the journey to reach this point. LOTS of letting go!
Stay tuned for the next ten soon…
xo
Mindy