My Chapters...

What chapter of life are you in? I am entering a new chapter. I just turned 32 and have fallen into a new awareness of life. I have been lucky to experience a ton go growth in the last 5 years, but it feels as though I am reaching a new level. New level in my relationships, new level in my career, new level in my spirituality, new level in my awareness. I believe some chapters are shorter, or longer. Other chapters are less exciting, or more exiting. But each chapter of our lives is important, each chapter is special, and each chapter is absolutely necessary. Our book of life is shaping a beautiful story ever single day. Moment by moment... Looking back at the chapters of my childhood, I get teary-eyed reminiscing about late summer evenings outside with my parents and my two brothers, running around laughing and playing. I think about the many family holidays we shared together, and celebrating birthdays with cake and cousins. I think about being on the playground at recess in elementary school, and summer break resting at home without a care in the world. These may be the sweetest chapters of them all. Thinking back on my teenage chapters, I get emotional remembering my first crush and the butterflies in my stomach. I think back at my first day of high school, and my silly hair do's. I think about my first school dance, and also the tears of my first heartbreak. I think to all of the friends that have came and went through those years, and how instrumental they all were in my life. The chapters of early adulthood and my 20’s are full of thrill, full of darkness, full of twists and turns. Interestingly enough, they are also the chapters that strike me the most profoundly. In my 20’s I learned about who I am, and who I am NOT. I learned about where I have gone in life, and where I WANT to go in life. I have experienced the darkest of days, and the brightest of days. Thinking back to all the chapters of life is important so we can prepare more openly to receive the chapter we are entering now. Some of us have children, some of us are losing parents, some of us are moving away to start new lives. Each of us has a Story of Life we write each day. As we write our story, it evolves and grows, and transforms us form within. I think we can see clearly now just how necessary each chapter has become, and how quickly the chapters seem to end. Before we know it, we will be nearing the end of our story, and writing our last chapters. The chapter of Today is the only one we really have now, and the one we must enjoy as much as possible. Here are some ideas to help us more openly receive our present chapter: REFLECTION - As we grow, many of our early memories get lost or forgotten. We spend little time taking note of the precious that may soon leave us. Take time to write down in a journal 3 of your best memories from each chapter of your life. Take time to really think about childhood, teen years, Twenties, parenthood, etc. Document special moments from each one. Read them to yourself out loud once you are done. Try to remember the details of those moments as clearly as possible. Save your writing in a place where you can read it once a year, and reconnect with the chapters of our past. Keep these writings safe, possibly to pass them off to our children someday. ENVIRONMENT - How many homes have you lived in? How many cars have you owned? How long have you lived in your city? We become so used to our everyday environment that we often forget how temporary it really is. For many of us, we can think back to an old home, or an old apartment we used to live in, and miss the feeling of our old place. Try to build that appreciation for your current living environment. Appreciating the place you currently live will allow you to engulf yourself more fully in this chapter of your life. The places we live are usually temporary. We will be on to another chapter soon enough, lets be mindful of the place we wake up to, and fall asleep to each and every single night. This chapter will not come again. ENERGY - What type of person were you at 12?What type of person do you want to be at 42? What about at 52? Don’t wait to be that person. Live in the energy of that person today. Does your future self look happy? Do they smile? Do they say hello to strangers on the street? Do they call old friends just to wish them a happy weekend? Does the future You make time to read, to learn a new language? Does future You make people feel good about themselves, does that person feel proud of who they have become? All of those answers are based on the energy you live in today - in this very important chapter of your life. Live in the energy of the person you are working to be. Do not push through this phase of your life, hoping the next will be better. Bring that into today. Live as if you are already that future person. This chapter already has all of that to offer us, we simply have to start living like such. Only then, will we be able to look back in 10 years and see just how well we made use of this chapter. One thing I love about self development and personal growth, is NOT having all of the answers. The more i seek, the more I realize how much there is to learn. For me, this journey of self development is a social journey to share with my friends and family. I urge people to give me feedback and to help teach me their findings. I have some of the best friends, and best people in my life who I learn so deeply from. Please continue to share your experiences with me. Only then, will we build each other up. We need community of like-minded individuals sharing, and growing, and living in genuine self together. Be open people, be vulnerable people, be real people. Share what has been so specially given to you in your past and present chapters. And if you liked this, share with other friends! Thank you friends!