Birthday Cartwheels

Jul 24, 2015
2 min read

"Don't fly too high," Seth Godin retells the story of Icarus whose dad warns him not to fly too close to the sun, lest he burns.

"But more importantly, don't fly too low, for the water will spray your wings wet and you will certainly perish."

If you've followed this blog along in the last five years, you would know how birthdays are sacred for me. It's my annual cycle of many things - introspection and gratitude, mainly. My last birthday was rough, as I've danced with and muscled through some existential quandaries mostly surrounding pressures I've allowed society to put on myself.

But that storm has passed and wil most likeley never be seen again.

Ladies and gents, I got my mojo back.

At the beginning of the year, I've unleashed more daring projects than ever before. I realized that I have flown so low for so long that I've once and for all, let my overachieving self go. And the most stupefying thing is that just daring to fail has taken me in reaches I've never expected to go. In doing the petrifying things, I have become more in my element. Many, many, many great new doors have swung wide open. And I am brimming with gratitude and disbelief for that.

My fervent wish, birthday or otherwise, is by putting myself unrelentlessly out there, I will ignite some inspiration and bravery in you as well. That striving to be in my element, portrayed here - barefoot, outdoors, hair undone, and giddy - I will live a life full of meaning and purpose, of generosity and authenticity. That I will make choices and live a life I am proud of.

Happy 30-somethingth birthday to me.