People have asked if I will keep the blog after today, and the answer is yes! It will get a new name, and I won’t likely post everyday, but more on that transition later this week. I plan to use it much as I have these last 3 months in reflecting on and learning from my experiences; chronicling my health, fitness, and wellness; reporting on some of my research pertaining to gender and medical rhetorics, teaching technical comm and mentoring; and articulating the many blessings in my life.

What I know today is that on most days, I am comfortable in my own skin and recognize that joy, contentment, and happiness are states of being that takes practice. But most things do, really. We never really arrive or are done learning; even when we achieve goals, we always have more, and when chapters end, we’re faced with new chapters or maybe even new books. Embracing the process and the journey, that’s the key.

We get to write our own story, and what we believe and perceive is just as important as what others believe and perceive, but we owe it to all the people in our lives to try to understand perspective different than our own if we want to understand others and have them understand us. Gratitude breeds compassion.

I believe that cultivating connections with other important people in our lives takes courage and vulnerability, which is not always easy. It can mean uncomfortable situations, but what I know is that fear of being open and vulnerable with people is much worse emotionally and mentally than the act of vulnerability. I am especially grateful for some incredibly awesome, compassionate, and courageous people in my life who support me and love me for all of my strengths and weaknesses. Connections with people are important because these relationships can act as mirrors and help us see things we can’t all by ourselves. These reciprocal, mutually beneficial relationships are key, and they take nurturing and self-care just as we must nurture and care for ourselves. This work take practice and time and it doesn’t happen overnight. It happens slowly and steadily as you make a conscious commitment to yourself and to the people in your life. It also takes reflection and deliberateness.

 

 

I find the following Guideposts for Wholehearted Living  to be incredibly helpful in living an inspiring, meaningful life. What I know is that we’re all in this together. Interesting that in order to cultivate things in our own lives, we must be willing to let go of certain things. No wonder the song “Let It Go” from Frozen resonates so much with me.

Slowly and surely with commitment and practice, we look up one day and realize we’re doing things differently, more deliberately, and more consistently. And then you just turn around and do it all again the next day being flexible and adaptable. There is no real end or destination, there’s the journey and the commitment to practice.

I’m incredibly grateful and blessed to have so many people in my life that help me be my best. My birthday wish is to continue to cultivate and nurture connections with people that help bring out the best in me. I’m hoping to have plenty along for the journey.