birthday #37

Today is birthday number 37 for me.

Two days ago, I'd had a bad dream of having had a botched eye surgery, and while on massive pain killers was having to give my personal information (including my birth date) to an intake nurse. She didn't believe that all of this mess was happening on my birthday and figured I was too altered by the drugs to think clearly. I was glad to wake up the next morning.

Today, between spending a few lazy moments lying in bed, and while out walking the dog – just the one dog now – I made a decision that my gift to myself this birthday is the decision to no longer be afraid. I know my friends will laugh at the idea that I'm afraid of anything, and in truth I'm much less afraid in general than I have been previously in my life – but I'm still tired of letting any amount of needless fear or anxiety influence my decisions.

So I have composed the following affirmation for myself:

Each morning, I awake ready and willing to embrace my life.
I look each day squarely in the eye, take a deep breath, and say, "Yes!"

Another gift to myself today might be a trip over to SuperCuts. I hate getting my hair cut, and I've avoided it way too long. This long, thick mane of mine could use some attention.

By the way, I love my work. I've started freelancing again, and it's great to be paid to write and to meet new people and have new experiences. Yesterday, I headed out into the forests outside of Portland and spent some time with a fifth-generation forester who is dedicated to sustainability and helping to build local community business. The temperature was perfect, with a very light rain falling, and the setting was absolutely gorgeous. I also met a green builder who had come out to the forest to cut some trim pieces for a job he's working on in town. Then I climbed onto the back of an ATV and rode through the woods while the forester gave me a tour of his sustainable forest.

And I'm working on my third annual NaNoWriMo project – you can find my profile under "revjen." The November insanity continues....!