Today I turned 58 years old. I indulged in the joy of celebrating my 58 years. I am proud of where I am and what I am today so I am not iffy about revealing my age. Never mind if certain people will box me , based on my age. Nine years ago, when I first started this blog, I was just heading towards the resolution of my grief journey. Recovery is about knowing I have choices and giving myself the freedom to choose. I chose to enjoy the rest of my life despite the deaths in my family. It meant learning that love lives forever in my heart, which death cannot take away.
I like looking back to what I wrote back then. Here is an affirmation that I took from my recovery notes:
For too long, I have been hard on myself. Others have spilled their negative energy on me. I know it had nothing to do with me. I am a gift to myself and to the Universe . I am a child of God. I do not have to try harder , be better, be perfect , or be anything I am not. My beauty lies in me just as I am each moment. I will celebrate that.
I will take time to pause, reflect and rejoice my accomplishments. For too long, I have listened to admonitions not to feel good about what I have done lest I will fall into the arrogance trap. Celebration is a high form of praise of gratitude to God. To celebrate is to delight in the gift, to show gratitude.
Today, I will also celebrate the lessons from the past and the love and warmth of friends and family. I will continue to enjoy the beauty of others and their connection to me. I will celebrate all that is in my life and all that is good.
I will celebrate me.
I will continue to do so for the rest of my life.