Well, here’s to 37! Another year around the sun. I was looking through recent photos and found this one from Bennachie after I spent the night inside the hill fort a few days ago. Like lots of you, I hate photos of myself and avoid them like the plague. But I try to take them still, and reflect on the moment later. I was tired, I was windblown, I was FREE. The warm sun on my face, the cuckoo calling in the distance, my legs were strong and carrying me across the ridge and down the mountain, my belly was full, I had friends to check in with that cared about my safety. Its a photo of a woman who felt like a queen - because I am - I’m the queen of my life, I’m rich where it matters.
In typical birthday post fashion, I thought I’d share a few thoughts about some of the most important things in life. I would start with this one: choose to live. Whatever that means to you, do it. Live your life. Do it with kindness, with love, with compassion. But live like today is your last adventure. Life is amazing. That doesn’t mean its easy. I have little to my name, and am poor if you judge me by my bank account balance but if my soul were a river, it would be overflowing with experience, with gratitude, with joy for life. And it would be rushing with all the energy is could muster to the next adventure.
Listen to other people - to their stories, their wisdom, their fears, their triumphs and their failures. We all want to be heard, and we all have stories to tell. And we all have room to learn something new. Open your heart to what you can learn from others, no matter their age, religion, race, sex or shoe size. Be humble, be receptive, be open minded. And be generous in spirit.
Follow your gut. This journey has unfolded because I followed my gut. If something doesn’t feel right I don’t do it - whether I can put my finger on a reason or not. But if something feels like I’m meant to do it, I will do it. Even if it doesn’t make sense, even if I can’t explain to someone else why. Trust your instinct, learn to listen to yourself. The path will unfold before you, and you will navigate it well - have faith in yourself to take the leap into the unknown.
While you are choosing to live, to follow your gut, don’t forget to strike a balance of time for yourself and time for others. Its healthy to go off on our own, to refresh - some need to do this more than others. It’s not selfish. But don’t forget to check in on people, to say a kind word, to send a card. You are not responsible for the happiness of others, but kindness is free, and a little bit can go a very long way to impacting someone else’s life.
And the last point which I have really embraced this year, is to accept that not everyone is going to like you. We can’t strive to be everyone’s cup of tea - if we do, we will stretch ourselves thin, deplete our energy, dampen our joy - all to please everyone. Accept that we all have our own tribe, our own people, and if someone isn’t meant to be in your community, thats ok - they can find a tribe that makes them happy. Don’t waste time and energy over caring who likes you. Be the best you can be, be kind, live your own life, and put your energy into caring about the people who DO like you for you.
So, there are a few birthday musings. I’ve got a busy weekend ahead - I’m staying with my lovely friend Nicola for the weekend. Tomorrow I’ll be at the Duncarron Medieval Village grand opening. Sunday is my very first Scottish Wanderlust meet up, (can't wait to see you there!!) Next week I have a big adventure planned up north, testing my own strength once again. I’ll keep you posted 😉 Thank you for being my tribe, for supporting and encouraging me, and being part of this journey with me. ❤️