lessons i’ve learned from
{50 years of life} about life
the sun always rises. you can pretend not to see it,
but even behind the blackest clouds, it is there.
if you aspire to excel at one thing, make it forgiveness.
all the things you’re going to do someday don’t exist.
every day, every dawn, is a gift. open it slowly,
savor the anticipation, play with the wrappings.
there is no better dance partner than the moon.
forward is the only direction.
build a house of hope and love, and you will
never need to fill it with things.
perfection is a burden best discarded.
be grateful, ever-so-grateful, for every breath you take.
your 737th kiss will be just as memorable as
your first, as long as you are paying attention.
an embrace is the best way to hold on.
doing nothing at all is the best form of busy.
sadness weighs the opposite of happiness,
and we need both to keep us grounded.
you can paint a picture with far less than 1000 words.
mother nature is the original caretaker of wonder.
never take anything for granted. however,
you will take everything for granted.
the caged bird sings because it sees that life goes on.
your heart is always your best feature.
there will never be enough time for anything,
but you can make time for what’s important.
laughter is the music of your soul.
tea is the elixir of life.
if what you really want to do is fly,
well, now, just look at all that sky.
.
.
.p.s. the link party will be open until friday, feel free to join in at anytime!
.
November 27th, 2012 at 7:44 am
It is always an unparalleled joy to visit with you. Happy birthday; your words are always the best gift to us.
November 27th, 2012 at 7:53 am
What beautiful and inspiring life lessons. Happy 50th birthday Kelly!!!!
November 27th, 2012 at 8:17 am
Forward is the only direction.
Love you and happy 50th!
November 27th, 2012 at 8:24 am
happy, happy birthday! do let me know if 50 is the new 40. 🙂
November 27th, 2012 at 8:34 am
You are such a gift, giving so generously on your own birthday. Sending light and love your way; hope it’s magnificent!
November 27th, 2012 at 8:56 am
Your warmth and generosity just ooze through the computer screen. Sending you a big sprinkling of birthday magic, may all your dreams come true. Happy Birthday. xoxoxo
November 27th, 2012 at 9:06 am
i was afraid to read this for fear you would unduly influence me as i typed! lol! of course, you always do, and it is a gift and a blessing. have a fabulous wonderful magical day. smooches!
November 27th, 2012 at 9:12 am
happy birthday, mrs. mediocrity!
i enjoy your words of wisdom when i read your blog or your comments elsewhere.
“50” looks good on you!!
xx
November 27th, 2012 at 9:25 am
happy birthday kelly! your words are such an inspiration, always.
November 27th, 2012 at 9:38 am
Your day…and you give us this gift. Sending you lots of love, light and laughter for your birthday, along with tons of gratitude for the wisdom in your words…confession? I was a little cranky before my visit…now I am not. Thank you! and the happiest of birthdays too!
November 27th, 2012 at 9:59 am
I just linked over from Vision and Verb. What a beautiful site you have here. Just subscribed. Wow to this poem. I love every word and bit of wisdom in it. And Happy Birthday!
November 27th, 2012 at 10:54 am
Congratulations on your 50th! I’m 49 now and am nowhere near as insightful as you. May yours be a long and happy life.
“if you aspire to excel at one thing, make it forgiveness.” Bril, just bril.
Love, Mosk
November 27th, 2012 at 11:47 am
Happy 50th birthday to one of the greatest children GOD ever put on this green earth 🙂
WE LOVE YOU
November 27th, 2012 at 12:03 pm
oh wow…first of all…happy birthday..wishing you lots of blessings…and oh how i love the life lessons…if you aspire to excel at one thing, make it forgiveness….i so agree…and thanks for sharing them with us
November 27th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Love YOU! Happy Birthday! Thanks for your special words of wisdom. 🙂
November 27th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Have you always been so utterly brilliant? Happy birthday! 🙂
November 27th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
woot woot happy birthday….lots of really cool wisdom in this…as long as you are paying attention is def key…forgiveness is def huge as well….smiles.
November 27th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
Yes, yes, and yes to all the above…so well said! And welcome to 50 – I just had mine in July!! (And the world didn’t come to an end, ha) Happiest of Birthdays to you!!
November 27th, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Happy Birthday, Kelly. Wonderful life lessons. xoxo
November 27th, 2012 at 3:12 pm
This is a gift to all of us! Happy Birthday!
November 27th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
What a great list for all of us! Here’s to your next 50!! The best is yet to come!
November 27th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
I wish I could pick one or two favorites, but I love what you have offered here w/ lessons you’ve learned. Will think about it & try to link, too.
http://lkkolp.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/petting-zoo-therapy/
November 27th, 2012 at 3:32 pm
Truth and good advice well said. Happy Birthday!
November 27th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
[…] dear friend Kelly’s birthday is today, and in honor of her 50 years, she is celebrating life and inviting others to share how they celebrate it too. So here I am on this cold, clear morning […]
November 27th, 2012 at 4:02 pm
Happy Birthday Mrs M…I loved all of your reasons to be cheerful. Wonderful way of looking at life.
November 27th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Loved this! Such wisdom and clarity, with this refreshing simplicity for what really matters. The 3rd and 5th statements in particularly hit home.
November 27th, 2012 at 4:57 pm
Happy Birthday! This list is far too wonderful not to be put in more places than this. You must do more with this. Love it 🙂
November 27th, 2012 at 4:57 pm
Loved the widom in your lines and love ‘every day, every dawn, is a gift. open it slowly,
savor the anticipation, play with the wrappings.’ especially.
Happy 50th!
Anna :o]
November 27th, 2012 at 5:00 pm
This is so beautiful, Kelly. Every single item. It’s wonderful to recognize the things I’ve already learned at 29, even better to learn from your wisdom of 50. Have a beautiful birthday.
November 27th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
“the caged bird sings because it sees that life goes on.”
this has me thinking…
November 27th, 2012 at 5:13 pm
such beautiful advice/lessons. I wouldn’t mind a dance or two with the moon.
November 27th, 2012 at 5:15 pm
How very super!!!
Wonderful read and a great idea to have others post as well — warm kindness sent to you this afternoon!
November 27th, 2012 at 5:25 pm
forward is the only direction. i have been going backwards too long. i will change that. Happy Birthday Mrs. M.
You will love the 50’s. we find out who we really are.
in fondest, tilda
November 27th, 2012 at 5:28 pm
What wise words! I especially liked the comment “you can make time for what’s important”. You are right, it is a choice… we need to remember that, and make it part of our daily living.
November 27th, 2012 at 5:30 pm
Nicely done!
November 27th, 2012 at 5:35 pm
So many wonderful little gems in here. It just kept making me smile throughout! Thank you.
November 27th, 2012 at 6:06 pm
So much truth. Such a beautiful piece. Thank you for steering this poor soul back to what really matters.
November 27th, 2012 at 7:35 pm
This is ever so beautiful, full of inspiration. I went back to choose my favorite but just can’t. Thank you for sharing this and many blessings on your brithday. And you’ve given us the gift!
November 27th, 2012 at 7:38 pm
My favorite is:
“every day, every dawn, is a gift. open it slowly,
savor the anticipation, play with the wrappings.”
November 27th, 2012 at 8:08 pm
Very sweet
November 27th, 2012 at 8:43 pm
What a gift you have given us for your birthday – beautiful and wise – happy day with many beautiful days to come. K
November 27th, 2012 at 9:27 pm
Beautiful gems of wisdom ~ I love them all ~
November 27th, 2012 at 9:44 pm
I see happy birthday is in order. I love this collection, and my favourite is
“your heart is always your best feature.”, isn’t that the truth.
Pamela
November 27th, 2012 at 9:59 pm
That was really pretty!! I liked it!! (And I usually don’t like happy, pretty poems!!) 🙂
November 27th, 2012 at 10:07 pm
Love all the one liners–yes, you don’t need a thousand words. Happy Birthday!
November 27th, 2012 at 11:14 pm
[…] I am grateful to celebrate the birthday of a truly beautiful spirit…Happy Birthday, Mrs. Mediocrity…for you are anything but […]
November 28th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
Happy happy happy birthday! What a great celebration! I hope it was a wonderful wish fulfilled day!
November 28th, 2012 at 5:32 pm
Hello, you don’t know me but I want to thank you for these pretty lines, truly they serve as food for the soul. And Happy Birthday to you!
November 28th, 2012 at 11:47 pm
I’m late to the party but wishing a wonderful 50th birthday. I hope it was grand.
Your list is terrific and so creative and thoughtful. Love– “there is no better dance partner than the moon” 🙂
xo jj
November 29th, 2012 at 3:34 am
Best wishes for your birthday! Beautiful verse and excellent lessons. Each one of them true ..thanks for the reminders
November 30th, 2012 at 8:11 am
A couple of days late, but Happy Birthday for the rest of the year!
December 1st, 2012 at 11:05 am
You inspire me in ways I didn’t even know where possible.
Thank you.
So much love. xo
December 10th, 2012 at 10:31 pm
wow, wow