#61: Happy Half a Century to Me!

Happy Half Century to me! I had many moments in those years where I questioned if I would make it to celebrate such a milestone. At age seven, I was living in an abusive home and didn’t know how I would make it another minute. When I was nine, I lived in an abusive foster home and did not want to live another minute. At age twelve, I was living in a crack house with my father and other addicts. During these early years, I was able to hold on because of my grandmother and to protect my precious younger siblings. 

As a teenager, I was suicidal. At sixteen I attempted to take my life, but I know in my heart God had other plans for me and intervened. By 22, I was twice divorced. One divorce was abusive and actually ended in a court martial. To say it plainly, my life was not a walk in the park. I share all of the above because I NEVER thought I would make it here, to age 50.

But not only did I make it, I am thriving spiritually, emotionally, and physically! I recently celebrated 26 years of marriage to the most wonderful man. Even when we struggled, he brought love and joy to my life. Steve and I raised three incredible children, and two precious granddaughters. My heart is full. 

I feel as though 2023 has been a year-long celebration. A marathon in Germany to celebrate my marriage; a full-Ironman in Austria to celebrate me; and a week in Oregon to celebrate my family. In the next few weeks, I will be doing a 500-mile bike ride across Iowa, and in August I will be participating in my 10th Full Ironman. I am strong, fearless, and ready to embrace the next chapter of my life. I want to leave you with 50 lessons (one for each year around the sun) that I have contemplated over this past year. May mine inspire you or motivate you to consider your own. 

1.  The impossible becomes possible as soon as we totally surrender.  
2.   You must attempt to do the thing you think you cannot do.
3.   Comfort is a waste of potential.
4.   If you master the mind, you can master anything.  
5.   The opposite of growing is dying.
6.   Sometimes our fears (and even our love) can blind us.
7.   Accept your past without regret, handle your present with confidence & face your future without fear.
8.   In the game of life death always wins.  I choose how I play.
9.   Learn how to recover from falling by failing.
10.  Love yourself unconditionally and be yourself fearlessly.
11.  If and when I notice negative thoughts creeping in, allow them to pass through with acceptance and without judgment.
12.  You can run any distance, including the distance you once believed was impossible.
13.  Your mind has to tell your body who is in charge.
14.   Life is like a roller coaster, it has ups and downs.  But it is your choice to scream or enjoy the ride.
15.  Move well, move strong, move more, move fast.
16.  Live Free or Die.
17.  Reflect, Release, Reset.
18.  It doesn’t matter how slow you go as long as you don’t stop.
19.  I am not what happened to me.  I am who I have chosen to become.
20.  The more I let go, the more I have.
21.  When the mountain seems too steep, think about what the view will look like on the peak.    
22.  Your body hears what you're thinking.
23. Live a quiet life in a world of noise.
24.  Accept the hard as a pathway to peace.
25. Don’t miss the goodness of the day.
26.  Keep Going!
27.  Surf the waves of life.
28.  If you have no joy, what is the purpose of living a long life?
29. Every storm runs out of rain.
30. Don’t move forward with fear… move forward with curiosity.
31. Never allow your past to create roadblocks to your future.
32.  Healed or walking wounded?  Your choice….
33.  Opposite of growing is dying.
34.  Stay in the game.
35. Do the next best thing.
36. Turn your wounds into a gift for society.
37.  Suffering does not destroy faith, it refines it.
38. Immerse yourself in prayer.
39. Words have Power.
40. Life is a summary of your choices.
41. Be with someone who motives you to do better in life.
42. You are Worthy!
43. Feelings are not facts.
44. I survived trauma, I can survive recovery.
45. Be bold!
46. If trauma can be passed down through generations, then so can healing.
47. I have survived too many storms to be bothered by the raindrops.
48.  You won't have inner peace until you give up the war against the world.
49. Just because your past is painful does not mean your future will not be miraculous
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 50. This world is not my home; I am just passing through...  
Now that the “big” day has passed. I am excited to embrace the prospects of growth that await me in the year (and half century) to come.