Live. Love. Laugh. #chapter42

I happily burst across that line, entering my 40’s with my “theme” literally written across my shirt that read:  “I’m Just Getting Started.”  I felt like I was finally at a place where I had enough successes and failures (or better called lessons) to help me understand enough about what works to help me thrive and what could detour or derail me from my purpose and my destiny.  By the time we turn 40, many of us pretty much have gotten to know ourselves and hopefully love ourselves enough to unapologetically go after what keeps us healthy and makes us happy.  We are at a place where we aren’t trying to impress anyone and are very comfortable in our own shoes.  We have learned that time is valuable, people are priceless and that there is a long list of things that we need that money can’t buy.
    Live.  Time is valuable.  It is precious and priceless.  Each day is a gift, and none of us know how much time we have here on earth.  The popular phrase YOLO (meaning you only live once) is often used as a reason to go out and live careless and with risky behavior, but knowing that YOLO should motivate each of us to make the very best out each day, week, month and year that we are afforded.  When we rush through life trying to get too much done too fast, we can easily miss the important things – the moments, the people, and the millions of beautiful things that are happening around us every single second.  We should try to be present in the moments.  Don’t be so distracted that you completely miss it.  Don’t simply exist, but make sure you LIVE.
    Love.  Love is a beautiful thing, and everyone should experience it.  One thing that I have found to be true is we cannot give something to others that we ourselves do not possess.  In order to be able to love others, you must have love in your heart.  And what’s in your heart will come out of your mouth and show up in your actions.  On the other side of that, in order to be able to receive love from others, you have to be willing to open your heart.  If your heart has been hurt or wounded in the past, take the time to heal – so that you can fully experience love again.  If you put up walls to try and protect yourself, the same walls can prevent the good things from getting to you.  There is no fear in love. 
Learn to love yourself, and treat yourself in a manner where you show yourself love.  Find out what your love language is (The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman is an excellent resource on this topic).  Treat yourself well – get enough sleep, exercise, eat things that are good for you, have healthy boundaries (it’s okay to say no), do things that bring you joy.  Get around people who love you, and share that love with others.  Love reciprocates.
    Laugh.  They say laughter is good medicine for the soul, and that is the truth.  Laughing creates the right chemicals in our bodies that make us feel good and can lift a heavy heart when feeling low.  Laughter is extremely healthy.  We can be proactive and purposely put ourselves in situations that will make us laugh – that could be a funny movie, a comedy show, being around someone with a great sense of humor, or observing something very sweet or silly.  Find out what makes you smile, giggle, chuckle and get more of that in your life!
    Lastly, get a good tribe.  Even though social media and technology are designed to help us become more connected, there seems to be more of a disconnection between us all.  Fear is plaguing our society and so more people are tend to isolate.  We are not designed to do life alone.  We can get so much further and much more accomplished together.  Surround yourself with people who build you up, pull you up when you’re down and will pull the best out of you.  Living, loving and laughing is so much better with others. ​