36 Birthday Pearls

Today is my 36th birthday, y’all!

Here’s 36 life lessons I’ve learned in 36 years.  I’m not perfect -surprise!- but I try like the dickens to live by each of these.  My 36 pearls of wisdom for you, peeps!

In random order.

1. People are hurting, err on the side of kindness.  If they aren’t now, they will be soon.  So many of us, so often in misery taken out by life’s ugly curve balls.  Your kindness can make all the difference in the world.  Be kind.  Be kind.  Be kind.

When you tweet, when you blog, when you visit family, when you come home to a cranky spouse, when you change a diaper, when you are in traffic, when you are on your period, when your cat pisses on your shirt, when you have no words for the exasperation you are feeling.  No matter what, be kind.  Play nice.

2.   Always have hope, preferably in Jesus.  Beg, borrow or steal if you have to, but maintain a steady supply.  Or, like me, you could get it tatted on your hand for a handy (pun intended) constant reminder.

3. It is no one’s job but your own to inspire yourself to grow as a human being.  Overall growth as a life goal is implied.

4. Just because you are a good writer, a clean house-keeper, an “A” student, a loving wife, a long-suffering husband, a conventionally pretty or handsome person, a hard worker, a middle-class person, a wonderful speaker/teacher/trainer/blogger, or _____ or ______ or _____ it does not make you better than anyone else.  As soon as you possibly can, get over yourself and value others no matter what they have or don’t.

5. Jesus is legit.  2 legit 2 quit.  Sorry.  I could. not. resist the Hammer.  As I was saying, in Jesus, I have found life to the full!

6.  The Bible is an amazing book that is majorly confusing and deserves a lot of time and attention to understand well.  Study it often, study it through study guides.  Better yet, study it with others.

7.  Everyone -all 7 billion of us- are racist (sexist/ageist, etc.)  Embrace that you will always find a reason to assume you’re better than someone else.  Explore the reasons why you choose to live in that ignorance and try as best you can to believe the truth.  The alternative is the choice to live in superficial ignorance.  All 7 billion of us mugs are blight with sinful pride  showing up most often in racism, ethnic tension & wars.  Own it in yourself first.  Acknowledge it.  Be better than it.

8. Read.

9. Live to your full potential.  Your motives for doing will likely always be a mix of selfish ambition and selfless service to others.

10.  Decide to embrace tension.  Life is too complex to force into simplicity.  A life worth living is rife with tension.  For example, see #9.

11. Be vulnerable with at least 1 person, but shoot for 3-5.  An inner circle is vitally important.  Additionally, get a mentor.  And if you can swing it, a counselor & a Spiritual Director too.

You can read the rest of this post over at A Deeper Story.