One Year Older & 46 Years Wiser

First, I want to start off by saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me! This is my 46th birthday, and my best one yet! As I look back over the last couple of years, I would say they were definitely the hardest and most emotional years of my life; and that's what makes this birthday so special. I survived.

I keep a calendar on my desk that reminds me to be mindful, optimistic and full of gratitude. Today, it reads "Forget the mistake but remember the lesson." This is partly right. Remembering the past is the reason we record history. We need it in our mental data bank so we don't do it again. The true lesson is in our recovery--we need to hold onto what we've learned and our healing for dear life.

From all the pain, loss and sacrifice I've recently experienced, I've learned many lessons. Let me share a few with you:

• The universe will place the people you need in your life. Just wait, they are coming. Celebrate them when they arrive.

• You can overcome anything.

• The day that changes your life will start out like any other day. Worrying about the next big crisis won’t change it, delay it or resolve it.

• Everyone isn’t trying to help you—some people are just nosy. Beware of people who crave drama; they will want to be a part of yours because they don't have enough of their own.

• Crying releases tears, and it releases your emotions. Keeping them bottle up while telling yourself that everything is okay, is a recipe for road rage, taking your feelings out on the wrong people and chronic disease.

• There are many opinions about antidepressants. Some sadness is normal, but trust yourself to know when you've crossed the threshold and need medication. There is no shame in depression just like there is no shame in any other disease.

• Don't rush healing, it will come when it comes.

• Grieving is the process of letting go of the people, fortune, and the set of circumstances that defined your life in the past. Nothing lasts forever; healing begins when you embrace the new landscape of your life and look straight ahead knowing it will be okay.

I can't forget my mistakes and I can't forget my pain, but the intensity of them fade a little more each day. Most importantly, I will definitely remember the lessons. Remember your lessons, and remember to celebrate your birthday!

It's the day your story began.