It's my birthday

I just finished a phone call with my sister, laughing that I was certainly getting older, I went to bed early yesterday and aching all over my body today. The inference based on the description is wrong though. I went to bed early because the workshops I give, as positive as they are and as much as they feed my soul, consume a lot of energy and I am exhausted by the evening. The muscles are sore from the weight lifting. Two positive things, loosely connected with age, one from having so much experience that I am ready to share it with others and the second in preparation to stay fit for a long time. 

Yesterday's workshop for school leaders was about self-awareness and self-care. As writing has become such a big part of my identity, I built the workshop around it, to be me, to use what I know and to offer the gifts I have - mindfulness, gratitude and writing. I could see, hear and feel how the different poems and writing exercises touched the participants. Perhaps this has been my biggest growth last year - to trust to show more of me and do things my way. 

I told the participants that my goal was to conduct the workshop with curiosity, ease and playfulness. In some ways it is funny that now that I turn fifty-four these are the keywords I try to let guide my life. Still learning. 

When my mom called me this morning, she said that her inspirational quote calendar said, "The day is a canvas and you can splash the colours you like onto it." This too goes well with the ease and playfulness. I already went for a walk and found some colours that are perfect for today, together with the sweet phone calls and messages.