What I've learned...

April 8...the day before my 45th birthday.  45 seems significant, it feels like its my halfway point although I know the reality is that you never really know.  That's one of the lessons this life has afforded me and with that...I thought I would jot down what I've learned in these last 45 years.

I've learned that there are no guarantees

That you can't bank on time

I've learned that you can never really walk in someone else's shoes 

so therefore you should never judge them

I've learned that experiences shape our thoughts and our actions

what you do and how you respond has a lot to do with what you learned through experience

I've learned that shame is toxic

It is the biggest threat to suck out all the energy and passion of our lives

I've learned that human beings are miraculous amazing creatures

we are equipped for both profound exquisite good as well as horrible evil

I've learned that most often we underestimate our ability 

therefore we sell ourselves and the good we actually can do way short

I've learned that sunrises and sunsets are amazing

pausing to watch and reflect breathes life into my heart

I've learned that rain is necessary 

and that tears are just as important

I've learned that music is a beautiful crazy gift

to embrace it connects us to others in ways that cannot be explained

I've learned that I would rather play and lose 

than watch and win

I've learned that connecting to another human being is vital

it produces a joy that can never be found alone

I've learned that all most people ever want is to connect and be understood

when it happens heaven is glimpsed...when it doesn't hell is unleashed

I've learned that children can teach us more than any book

yet we often are too distracted to notice

I've learned that the intricacies and details of this world are beyond words

the profound creativity convinces my heart of a creator

I've learned that truth and love conquer all

maybe not in the moment but definitely in the end

I've learned that every moment we are alive is a gift

to understand this produces passion, peace and joy and to 

fully embrace it means we live each moment in daring bold ways

I've learned that there is no better time than right here, right now, to create, to love, to mend,

to cry, to laugh, to hold, to fight, to win, to lose, to dance, to sing and to be overcome by the beauty and epic wonder of this life.