how to make a beautiful life

Birthdays are another of many types of new years... your personal new year of sorts. The Fashionista gave me a really neat symbolic gift... two necklaces. One has a small silver dove, for when I am feeling free as a bird. The other has a pair of silver hearts, so whenever I'm feeling down I can wear my heart on my neck and not on my sleeve. I really like that (today - I'm wearing the dove).

My parents sent me a birthday card. The poem inside, no credit info beyond Hallmark, really struck me as well. Just in case I should somehow lose it, I wanted to include its words here to share as well...

Love yourself.
MAKE PEACE with who you are
and where you are
at this moment in time.

Listen to your heart.
If you can't hear what it's saying
in this noisy world,
MAKE TIME for yourself.
Enjoy your own company.
Let your mind wander among the stars.

Try.
Take chances.
MAKE MISTAKES.
Life can be messy
and confusing at times,
but it's also full of surprises.
The next rock in your path
might be a stepping stone.

Be happy.
When you don't have what you want,
want what you have.
BE ACCEPTING.*
That's a well-kept secret of contentment.

There aren't any shortcuts to tomorrow.
You have to MAKE YOUR OWN WAY.
To know where you're going
is only part of it.
You need to know where you've been, too.
And if you ever get lost, don't worry.
The people who love you will find you.
Count on it.

Life isn't days and years.
It's what you do with time
and with all the goodness and grace
that's inside you.
MAKE A BEAUTIFUL LIFE...
The kind of life you deserve.

(* Original poem said "MAKE DO", but my mom revised and personally, I prefer the revision)

Here's to hoping year 2-8 means many wonderful days in store and, of course, nothing but the best surprises around each bend.