Another birthday is here. I find it amazing how fast they come and go these days. I watch our kids and all of the kids in my family grow up and convince myself that they are getting older and I am really staying the same age. At least I feel young at heart and I suppose that really is half the battle.I may be 53 today, but I don't feel a day over 30 most days. Please note that I did not say nights. I admit that there are days when I feel even older than I really am, but that comes with the territory of my profession and busy life. Regardless, I am in very good physical shape; probably the best shape I have been in my entire life. My first career in the navy is well behind me by almost 17 years now and I am entrenched in my second career running the business of a law firm in Chicago. It is no wonder I feel older on some days after working with lawyers all day.
As last week ended, I was in the position of having to find a way to get through some rough spots, both personally and professionally. I knew that I needed to take a different approach to these situations, so I took some time alone (I had a lot of it these past few weeks) and took stock of my year. I am so glad that I did, as I had a pretty amazing personal year for so many reasons. Having reminded myself of all the good that is now in front of me, I decided that I would finish the week and be done with it. I knew that I did all I could do in all situations and that it was time to focus on me. The week had some blunders and absurdities that crept in; I chose to forget them as soon as I could. If you can learn something here, you should do the same in difficult situations, because you can. I realized that tomorrow is a new day; that I should begin it well and serenely and with not too high a spirit so it could not be encumbered with more potential nonsense. In other words, I was going to "Make it Count!"
So, what makes this birthday different from all the others for me is that I see this as my miracle birthday. I known for a long time that I was a lucky man to have love, family and friends in my life. However, last year at this time, I was still in a quandary trying to find out all I could to solve the mystery about my father, whom I thought was no longer with us. This year, I have not only found my father, but I have discovered new brothers and a sister and the beauty of their families that are all a part of my new beginning, as we all embark upon these new relationships.
Before I left for work this morning I already had five text messages from my "newly discovered" family in Buffalo and North Carolina. I cannot even begin to express the wonderful feeling that came over me. It put a smile on my face as big as the state itself.
As I was making my regular daily quote posting on my FB page, I was stunned to be staring at so many words of love and good cheer and wishes for a wonderful birthday from family and friends across the globe. I was feeling verklempt initially and then, there was that smile again because so many people reached out to me in order to do their part to make this day special. Suddenly, I was astonished that for so many years, I would do all I could do, within my control, to let the day slip under the radar. This year, I felt different about it. Perhaps because I never stopped believing in miracles and my heart and mind were now open to all things new, that I find myself on the receiving end of all things wonderful and it now feels comfortable for me too.
I have always looked at life in a positive way, no matter what the circumstances and in my own way do my best most days to help others do the same. This year, it feels different, there is this constant "bright spot" in my world because my life really does have this beautiful new beginning that most, as did I, only dreamed of happening one day. I see it as this amazing gift that I will treasure and make special and meaningful each and every day.
Today, I am reminded, not only that I am another year older, but about the many gifts in my life and I am certainly focused on all the beauty that there is ahead of me as I move through the year. Most of you know that I love to put a quote of the day on my FB page an I even have a page dedicated to quotes here on my Blog. Today, I am reminded about what I feel is an amazing quote by Michael LeBeuf. It reminds us that we make up what our world means to us from our own reflection. It goes like this: "The world is your mirror and your mind is a magnet. What you perceive in this world is largely a reflection of your own attitudes and beliefs. Life will give you what you attract with your thoughts think, act and talk negatively and your world will be negative. Think and act and talk with enthusiasm and you will attract positive results."
So, the message here is clear to me; Believe in the positive. Make each moment of today yours and be sure to make them count! And if I were you, I wouldn't blink, cause you'll miss all that is in between.
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