Happy Birthday to Me - - And You!

My birthday is on June 1. For this girl who grew up on a dairy farm, it felt significant to have a birthday that kicked off June Dairy Month. At least my Oshkosh B’Gosh overall wearing Dad wanted me to think so.

While the pictures in my mind’s eye are pretty vivid, I would love to have photos of those birthday moments earlier in my life. Birthday parties with my elementary school friends. Dinners with grandpa, grandma, Great Aunt Anna, my siblings, their spouses, my nieces and nephews.  It felt so special.

I’m not always great at celebrating myself, so commemorating a birthday is a great moment to take photos. Do something special. Acknowledge the joy.

And unlike a lot birthday-celebrating folks, I’m also not great at reflecting. 

I typically move from one thing to the next, looking to future tasks and projects. I’m not always as intentional or discerning as I could be.

After months of encouragement from a friend, last December I finally listened to a #MelRobbins podcast. It happened to be her year-end episode where Mel shared her annual audit ritual. I was all about reflection, intentionality, celebration, and discernment.  Just what I needed.

I found it so helpful at the turn-of-the-calendar, I thought I would do it again for my birthday, mid-way through the year, to reflect, celebrate, and recalibrate.

The first step in the process was to go through the photos on my phone from the past year and consider:

• The types of photos I saw most often

• Which photos brought a smile to my face

• Which brought a tear. Or stress. Or sparked regret.

• What did I want to do again. And again.

• What didn’t I ever want to repeat.

As I scrolled through my photo app - - intentionally, with discernment, I felt a lot of different emotions. I made a few decisions. I made plans. To make time for the important things. To be with the people I love. To meet new people that inspire me and make me laugh. To go to beautiful places. To soak in the beauty of nature, and let it shape me.

And I made a grocery list.  I have a lot of food-related and recipe photos.

In #MelRobbins’ process, she directs us to ask ourselves these questions:

1. What are the people, experiences, and commitments that created positive feelings, energy and memories for me this year?

2. What are the people, experiences, and commitments that triggered negative feelings, energy and emotions for me?

3. What did I learn about myself over the past year?

4. What am I going to stop doing in the coming year?

5. What am I going to start doing in the next year?

6. What am I going to continue doing?

7. What can I do today to the take the first step in the direction toward making this year the best yet?

How about you? What story do your photos tell? What do they help you celebrate? How does that reflection make you feel? Are you feeling a spark to spend your time, energy and love differently?  Where do you want to be to have more joy in the year ahead?

I hope this process inspires you. To think more intentionally. Acknowledge where your time and energy are best spent.  Recognize the “shoulds” in your life, where you might be spending time that isn’t serving you, or the most important people in your life, well. 

Happy birthday to you. Whether that day is the anniversary of your birth, or the anniversary of your renewed intentionality to live out your purpose, pursue your joy, make the year ahead its best.