I celebrated my 40th birthday over the weekend. This was a big one for me. I had been ‘practicing’ telling people I’m forty for about three years leading up to this birthday to help me feel more prepared for it. Now that I’m on the other side, I thought to write down some of the lessons I’ve learned over the past 40 years — many of which I really feel I’ve only truly ‘absorbed’ in the last couple of years–one or two as recently as last week, and there are a few I’m still working on. Ha! So here goes nothin’ : 40 lessons for 40 years:
- I am my own best friend
- I am my toughest critic
- Smart means different things to different people
- Sexy means different things to different people
- Owning up to mistakes is hot
- Physical beauty is defined by inner beauty
- Charisma is contagious
- Negativity is also contagious
- Passion acts like a fertilizer to any creative project
- Taking things too personally only hurts myself
- Creativity and confidence are intimately connected
- Being “non-confrontational” doesn’t usually make situations better or more comfortable in the long run
- Wrinkles, grey hair, body hair in general and stretch marks are beautiful
- Loving myself *hard* makes it easier for me to love others *hard*
- The way others get things done isn’t neccessarily the best way for me to get things done
- Herb(s) are magical
- It’s ok for people not to like me
- It’s ok for people not to agree with me
- Dancing is therapeutic
- Laughing is therapeutic
- Making music is therapeutic
- Painting is therapeutic
- Plants are therapeutic
- “Why” is a really important question (the most important??)
- Good processes beget good outcomes
- A lot can be done with a little, and makes space for creativity
- Holding on to anger is not healthy
- Diversity breeds better outcomes
- Practice anything daily and I’ll get good at it
- It’s ok to disappoint people
- Things that I once thought of as personal weaknesses or defects have become some of my greatest strengths
- Listening is almost always more effective than talking
- A heartfelt apology can go a long way
- WHO you surround yourself with is one of the most important life decisions
- Routines are important. Breaking routines is also important
- Everyone is struggling with something, some people are just better at hiding it than others
- A little kindness goes a long way
- It is easy to spread joy
- My gut is rarely wrong (but it is wrong sometimes)
- I feel my best when I feel the most connected to Mother Earth
//photo by Dabito
Mireya López says
Igual va mi feliz cumpleaños. Soy fans tuya.
Vivo bastante lejos de donde tú estas, pero no es im-
pedimento para alucinar con todo lo que haces.
Soy de Santiago de Chile. También estuve de cumpleaños, para ser mas precisa el 23 de este mes.
Un abrazo y bienvenidos los 40. Son pura sabiduría.
kay says
Happy birthday to you!!!
And thank you for being you. Seeing your pictures and creations brought much more in my life than you can imagine.
I wish you the best!
Rusty says
Oh, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUSTINA!
You’ve made my life much brighter and colourful by giving me more confidence to make my home my own style.
41. Your style is contagious
42. You’re admired so much because you keep it real
43. Jungalicious is a ‘thing’ because of you and your jam
…..there are so, so many more.
May you continue to do YOU so well and to share the good stuff far and wide.
Happy days from Australia!
Love n hugz, Rusty xox
Kem Lee says
Your 40 Lesssons are fantastic, please put them in your next book. Truly, I appreciate the reminders and the embrace of the paradox of living a peaceful life.
Redactle says
Congratulations on your birthday!!!
And thank you for being who you are. Seeing your photos and crafts provided me much more joy than you can imagine.
I wish you the best of luck!
Yohanna Thomas says
hello