I turned 60 this past week and more than anything I feel grateful. This last decade has been, to borrow Glennon Doyle’s word, “Brutiful” with big, exciting, beautiful things (launching my three amazing boys into the world, building Camp Reinvention, traveling to National Parks, to name a few), the daily little joys and annoyances and of course challenging times, ranging from the Covid era to the loss of my dad and the health challenge I now wrestle with. All in all I’ve learned from it and wouldn’t trade any of it (except perhaps the health stuff) in for the world.

A lot has shifted and I’ve evolved… Here are some of things that I’ve learned (and am leaning more into) in this past decade of life.

• Being intentional with my time and energy – This “YES” girl and people-pleaser has learned to say “NO”. And NOT feel guilty doing so!

• My give-a-shit-what-others-think-of-me factor has gone WAY down! Lightening the load on this one is so liberating!

• Being true to ME and trusting myself– I’m really getting to know myself and dropping the “Should’s”.  And I’m finding I like me, something I didn’t always truly know.

• Increased confidence –No more wasting time questioning and judging myself… Just going for it! What really is the worst thing that could happen?

• Surrounding myself with great people AND spending time with them–  This is something I’m grateful for every day.

• Feeling emotions and not stuffing them into my body. I’m a work-in-progress on this one.

• Letting go – Things change, life changes and it doesn’t always go the way you wish. I’m becoming more at peace with this.

• Savoring and being present – Life really is about the little daily moments, that truly is all there is. I’m focusing on slowing down more and being present to take it in. This becomes more and more important every year.

• Pretty damn good is good enough. Period.

• Every age is beautiful. A life well lived is a life fully lived at every age. So happy I get to keep adding days to my life.

• Doing it NOW – Sadly losing some people is keeping this top of mind. If not now, when?

• Letting them be – It’s not my job to fix, judge or do for others. The more I embrace this the better my relationships are.

• Self-care – This has been a big one this past year. I now truly know that I cannot be who I want to be for others unless I first take care of myself. Going for a daily walk has become my non-negotiable!

• Health –I/we can no longer take it for granted. Focusing on what I CAN do and focusing on creating good, life-giving habits to build from there.

• Cherishing solitude – I love my peeps AND I love my time. More and more I need alone time to just BE.

• Owning my strengths and accomplishments. I have my fair share of flaws and failures AND more than my fair share of accomplishments too. Focusing a hell of a lot more on those.

• Meeting interesting people and trying, learning and seeing new things. This is when I feel most fully alive!

• Making peace with what I did and didn’t do each day. Only I get to decide that what I did and who I am is enough!

• I’m so much stronger and more capable than I thought…

and so are you.

What have you learned in this last decade of life? I’d love to hear. ❤️