My birthday post.

I am exceptional grateful for aliveness, for second chances, for options, possibilities and snippets of values-based agency.

I am deeply conscious of my values, my purpose, a few of my shortcomings (with appreciation for those who help me see them more clearly), and the specific components of connection, creativity and contribution which provide significant meaning and satisfaction in my work and life.

I am clearly aware of the beauty and brevity of life, having forever lost too many of my favourite people over the last few years.

I acknowledge that I have little regard for ageism and perfectionism.

Much to the chagrin of many, my love for endless words—both real and improvised—continues to bring me unending enjoyment, especially when it strays from the rules of "appropriateness."

I crave solitude. I crave connection.

I have a public profile. I have a private life.

I have an insatiable appetite for learning. I sometimes overdose on too much information at once.

I am a farmer’s daughter turned leader-of-human capacity.

I adore my family just as they are.

I am fueled by purpose.

I believe in structured and productive disagreement that is mutually respectful.

I am a warrior for the value of all people.

I am a courageous protector of human dignity for all.

I am open to failed attempts.

I am a paradoxologist in theory and in practice.

I believe in giving and receiving accountability.

I have inner peace, embrace complexity, immensely curious, hold personal boundaries of wholeness, and jazzed to belong to a collective of people who are working toward more of what matters for the long game.

And did I mention that a cup of coffee is one of my favourite luxuries of ordinary things?

I'm delighted beyond measure to be present for this year's birthday. It brings me no end of pleasure to share it with the wondrous and welcome spring equinox once again this year.

I'm happy that you and I are alive together in our messy, beautiful world.

Sometimes we default to thinking that what we have isn't good enough. If only we did this, had this, achieved this, etc.

Sometimes we truly lack something truly important that is irreconcilable - a person, a dream, health, a passion, a hoped-for future.

I'm a strong advocate for the process of grief, loss and mourning.

Simultaneously in myself, I notice that I can lack appreciate for what is not yet lost, and what presently simultaneously still exists - people, dreams, passions, health and possibilities of a hoped-for future.

Both / And. It all belongs.

Life and work may not be a perfect four-leaf clover, but it can still be beautiful.

Lead yourself well.

Bittersweet - perhaps that's the best any of us can expect in our wild and wonderful, messy and challenging work and life.

It's okay.
It all belongs.

Given all the circumstances of right now, right here (and the projections of what might yet occur):
1. What is the PERSPECTIVE you want to choose in the next days/season of mind-management?
2. What are YOUR core values that you want to respect and honour?
3. What are your patterns of thinking and doing that are NOT serving the things that are most important to you?
4. When and how frequently will you check in on how you are balancing unending challenges and things outside of your control?

Reframe.
Redirect.
Refocus.
Rewire.

Lead yourself well.

The ONE next thing...

Feeling overwhelmed is consistent with being human.

Long periods of feeling overwhelmed is consistent with unhelpful stress in our body, mind and brain.

The purpose of our right and left hemisphere of our brain can help us out with the overwhelm. When things are overwhelming, the left hemisphere excels at structure, sequence, this-than-that kind of thinking.

Given the circumstances, what is one task that you might act on right now?

Suspend the rest of the overwhelm until that one task is executed. This calms the stress hormones as it communicates that you are controlling your thoughts instead of your thoughts controlling you.

Lead yourself well