I love this article written by Kena, a girl I went to school with, and co-founder of Brika.
Its about the five things she has learned since turning 40. Check it out and great article Kena!
https://medium.com/@Kena_BRIKA/five-things-ive-learned-since-turning-40-af3a82c82831#.wwj63emjr
Five Things I’ve Learned Since Turning 40
Along with 75% of my friends, I turned forty this year. From what I can tell so far, people have mixed feelings about turning forty. Some wish they were further along (in career and life) than they are, others take it in stride, while others embrace it fully with open arms. Often those in the latter camp have had more stumbles, falls and let’s be frank, heart-breaking sadness and deep disappointments than the average forty-year old. As a self-professed member of the latter camp, I can honestly say I’m ready to take on forty with more enthusiasm and energy than I did my twenties. The beauty of forty is that you’re still SO YOUNG. If you played your cards right and had a generous dose of luck, you have so much more health, vitality and potential ahead of you. You may not have the same spring in your step that you did at twenty (or maybe you do!) but you have been through stuff. And survived. And learned. And now you get to take all that hard earned wisdom on your next set of adventures.
Here are 5 lessons learned that I will take with me into my forties:
1. Love is limitless. Time is not. I’ve had an abundance of love in my life and it keeps coming my way in unexpected, ridiculously generous waves. I feel love from my family, friends, the wonderful man in my life and the beautiful people I work with whether my team or the artisans and designers that are a part of our community at BRIKA. There is NO limit to love. But time is most definitely limited. We only have so many hours and days to give and receive love. So say yes to it as often as you can. Instead of looking for reasons to turn it away, start looking for reasons to let it in. Don’t hold back from giving and feeling love.
2. It is never too late for your life to completely change. If someone a year ago had tried to predict my life today, I would not have believed them in a million years. Sometimes things take years to move an inch….and other times they move miles in a second. Never give up on what you want for yourself and your life regardless of how far off it feels today. It is never, ever too late for everything to change.
3. “Around every corner is the fascination of the unknown.” About a year ago, I read this in a book, wrote it on a post-it note and stuck it to my bathroom wall. I wanted to remind myself that despite all the uncertainty I was feeling about my future, that life is an adventure and you just never know what could be around the next corner. The thing is, you have to have your eyes and heart open to it or you could completely miss it. Settle in to the mystery of life by staying open to what could be just around the corner.
4. Manifesting is real. My partner Jen and I always say that if we want something to come to fruition we have to write it down. I believe in this at work and in life. Write down your wildest dreams and deepest desires. Believe they are yours to have. Be completely honest with yourself, be authentic to you and keep them aligned with your true nature. Let them be and read a year later. You will be amazed.
5. Protect your alone time. “The days go by slow but the years go by fast”. Life goes by so quickly. If you’re not careful, you’ll miss it among errands, meetings, obligations, emails, social media updates, and of course our racing minds. Gift yourself alone time to reflect, dream and just be. Take an hour at a coffee shop with your journal, a long walk where you notice only what’s around you, or a few minutes of meditation. Purposefully slow things down so you can check in with yourself, reflect on the path you’re currently on, and consider how you might want to change course in order to live more fully. You get to choose…but you need to know what you really need or want to choose what’s right. Always make time for you.