46 Trips Around The Sun

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Today is August 14 and that means it’s my birthday. I’m 46 and I know this for sure because I took the time to do the math. Yes, I’m at that age when I don’t even know how old I am.

Unlike little kids who always whip out the half (like nine and a half ) and the old folks who tell you what they almost are (almost 96), I don’t bother knowing my age at all.

Normally, I like to write something introspective for my birthday. What did I learn this year? What mattered to me?

This time though, I am struggling to care about any of that. Am I in a slump? Maybe. Will I come back to life with my upcoming travels? Maybe. I suspect I’m just worn down from fighting my own fledgling health and from changes that have made a big part of my life more stressful.

So, instead of looking backward, today I will look to the future and what I hope to work on in the coming year. Think of it as a sort of to do list.

1. Health – My health has got to be a priority. I know what needs to be done in terms of diet, fresh air, exercise and mental health. I just. Need. To. Do. It.

2. Adventure – Weekend adventures have been rare this summer. It’s time to dust off the maps and spend more time adventuring. It’s good for the mind and the soul.

3. One Small Thing – Continue using this method to accomplish stuff around the house. These last two weeks have been too distracting to care about that list but I’m ready to get back at it. Click here to learn about that.

4. Read – Reading is important to me but my attention span has been waning this year. Time to hit the books again!

5. Work – My work life once was intentional and somewhat well juggled but I have lost control. While I don’t know that I can mend the situation, I should at least try to find better ways to manage the new normal.

6. Just Say No – I forget this sometimes but No is a complete sentence. I need to stop allowing myself to be guilted into stuff I shouldn’t do and I need to say no to things that interfere with my priorities.

7. Just Say Yes – While saying no to things that don’t matter, it’s equally important to say Yes to the things that do matter. Yes is also a complete sentence.

So there you go. These are the priorities for this next trip around the sun! I once read that the first step to getting somewhere is to decide not to stay where you are. This resonated with me and maybe it will with you too.

In case you are wondering, the above picture is from Rock House in the Hocking Hills State Park. It’s a break in the cave that allows you to see light from the darkness.

15 thoughts on “46 Trips Around The Sun”

  1. Happy 46th, but Who’s Counting Day!
    Hope this will be a great year for you and that your “New To Do” list serves you well.

    As usual, I love to read your musings and enjoy your photography. You have a great eye for light and perspective. (“Old Stoneface”, there on the bottom left, is kinda cute too!)

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  3. Wishing you a WONDERFULLY Happy Birthday! Beyond that, I wish you all the best success and satisfaction in your efforts dealing with the things that go less than swimmingly. You are a bright star in the skies above this Plain – far brighter and NEEDED than you know. My best wishes, my prayers, my thoughts go with you, each and every day. From the time you awaken til you enter slumberland, I wish yoi Bon Voyage and Sweet Repose.

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  4. Happy Birthday, Brandi!! 🎉 Don’t sweat the plans for the next journey around the sun. You will enjoy being alive as you demonstrate regularly here on your blog. You get out and about and really SEE things more than almost anyone I know.

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  6. Happy Birthday!! I like your mindset of looking ahead (rather than in the past). That seems like a solid list of things to work towards. I struggle a lot with #5 and #6, but I’m working on it.

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