Monday was my 68th birthday.
I don't ever have to do anything special on my birthday to allow my birthday to feel special. Simply knowing it's my birthday makes me happy.
Just for fun while having my morning coffee on Monday, I Googled People Born on October 2nd.
Here are just a few names that came up. Ironically, several of them are people with whom I've always felt a kinship and admired:
*Photographer - Annie Leibovitz, Singer/Songwriter - Sting and Don McLean, Lawyer/Civil Rights Leader - Mahatma Gandhi, French Makeup Artist and Businesswoman - Laura Mercier, Fashion Designer - Donna Karan, and Movie Critic - Rex Reed.
Every year either on or around my birthday, I like to spend some time meditating and reflecting on my life and where it's taken me up to that point. I always feel such gratitude for my life and the different paths I've traveled down; each one bringing me to the next.
And I really mean this...
I wouldn't change a single thing about my life because, for me, I know that everything that has ever happened to me had a purpose. There are no accidents. I don't believe in regret and wish that I could go back and change what happened. As long as I sincerely feel that I have learned something from my past, that's all that matters.
What has it taught me?
The Way I Live My Life-
When I share things about my life and how I live it, I in no way mean that others should live their lives the same because we are all different and have our own ways of navigating and experiencing life.
I'm someone who lives without setting goals for myself because I believe my life is about following where life takes me. And in doing so, I have to stay very alert to the little "nudges" life gives me in the way of saying, "Okay Ron, now it's time for you to do this or that" and then I follow those nudges by making choices in those moments. But I have never been someone who sets long-term goals.
In other words, rather than directing my life to go a certain way, I allow myself to be directed.
I can honestly say that every change that has ever happened in my life came not from me but rather from life moving me in that direction.
One day last week, I came upon a reel on Instagram that highlighted a lovely lady who shared how she views life. And what she said struck a chord in my heart.
The person interviewing her asked if she had any angst about a certain age. And her response was so honest because she admitted to feeling angst at the age of 35-36. It was a time when so many things changed in her life (divorce, job change, relocation, losing her mother) and she wondered what she was going to do with her life and how she was going to do it.
It was then that she realized how her life was taking her exactly where she needed to go. As things changed for her and were removed, other things presented themselves. She no longer compares or measures her life to someone else's.
She brilliantly used "a river" to describe how she lives her life...
"We're in a river, and you have to let the river carry you. You cannot force the river. It's about flow. Water is the most powerful element, so allow it to let you flow."
And that is exactly how I see and live my own life.
Riding and flowing with the river...
Have a fantastic rest of your week, folks! 💖
First, Happy Belated Birthday, Ron! I so enjoy reading your "take" on life because it always gives me something to think about. I've never felt that when you share about your life, you are in no way TELLING others how to lived theirs. You simply share "your" way. I think we can all learn something from one another. I experienced angst when I hit 40. I kept looking back and saying, "What I have I really done in 40 years?" But after awhile, I began to see all the things I accomplished in 40 years.
ReplyDeleteI've never been one for setting long-term goals myself. I also don't ever make New Year's resolutions.
I like your whole outlook on taking life as it comes and going with the natural flow.
Thank you for sharing, Ron. Wishing you more adventures in your 68th year! x
Mahatma Gandhi? That's impressive! But than again, so is Sting!
ReplyDelete"I don't believe in accidents. Every single thing in my life has a purpose." - I don't either, Ron. Whether it's a positive or a challenging experience, they both have a purpose. And it's the challenging experiencing that I always look back on and think, "I now know WHY that happened!" And those are the experiences I seem to learn the most from.
I used to be a long-time goal setter because that's what I was taught. Set a goal and don't stop until you achieve it. However, many times the goal was not what I really wanted (or needed). I also think that if our goals are too far long-term, we miss good stuff along the way because we are so focused on that one goal.
"She no longer compares or measures her life to someone else's." Yes, that's the key. To not compare/measure ourselves against each other.
Inspiring post, Ron. Thanks!
Thank you, Candice! I love having birthdays. Even at 68! In fact, the older I get, the more relaxed I get about "going with the flow" of my life and accepting what's in front of me.
ReplyDelete"I experienced angst when I hit 40. I kept looking back and saying, "What I have I really done in 40 years?" But after awhile, I began to see all the things I accomplished in 40 years."
That's awesome! Isn't it something how 40 sounds so old when you're younger? Yet when you get there, you don't feel any different. And I feel that way about being 68. I remember my father being 60-something and thinking, "OMG...he's so old!" LOL!
Me neither. I do not make New Year's resolutions. I may have done that years and year ago, but I kept breaking the resolution that I just simply stopped doing it. The only resolution that I tell myself each New Year is to just be OPEN to where the new year takes me.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Candice. Have a great rest of your week!
X
Ha! I know, can you believe that? Both Gandhi AND Sting!!!! I've always liked Sting, so when I discovered that we had matching birthday's, I was like, YAHOOOOOOOOOO!
ReplyDelete"Whether it's a positive or a challenging experience, they both have a purpose. And it's the challenging experiences that I always look back on and think, "I now know WHY that happened!" And those are the experiences I seem to learn the most from."
I totally agree! When I first moved back to Philly in 2001, my life literally fell apart. I lost everything. I felt completely stripped of every that meant security. However, I discovered (over a period of TWO years) that I need to be stripped of those things so that I would see just how MUCH I had in my life that had nothing to do with security. I still look back on that challenging experience and think of it with such gratitude.
And I really love how you expressed this...
"However, many times the goal was not what I really wanted (or needed). I also think that if our goals are too far long-term, we miss good stuff along the way because we are so focused on that one goal."
Yes! Yes! Yes! To all of that!
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your feedback about your own discoveries. Have a FAB rest of your week, Daniel!
X
Not the 68 is old by any means, but I totally see (and hear) you as someone who is in your 30s!!! You have a young sprit, Ron. And I can feel that. I hope to be as adaptable and open as you are with my own life as I move forward. Age is really just a number anyway, right?
ReplyDeleteI'm slowly learning this too --- " I don't believe in regret and wish that I could go back and change what happened. As long as I sincerely feel that I have learned something from my past, that's all that matters."
There really is no point in regret, is there? Regret keeps you in that place of regret, which can hold you back from living now.
Happy Birthday, Ron! It's been so nice getting to know you.
Morning, Abby!
ReplyDeleteAw. thank you for your sweet words. I work with people who are much younger than I and they continually tell me that I act like a KID. And I say to them, "I AM a kid. I never grew up!" LOL!
"Age is really just a number anyway, right?"
Yes, it is really just a number, for sure! I mean, things (like your body) do change as one ages. However, I've realized that it's all part of the process of living. Adapting and adjusting to the changes that take place in my body. I take care of myself, yet I can still see changes. That's inevitable.
"There really is no point in regret, is there? Regret keeps you in that place of regret, which can hold you back from living now."
BINGO! My sentiments exactly. There IS no point in regretting.
Thanks a bunch for stopping by and sharing on this topic, Abby. So nice getting to know you too! Have a grrrreat rest of your week!
X
Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday, dearest Ronnie! Happy Birthday to YOU!
ReplyDelete*now blow out the candles*
LOL!
As Abby said before me, 68 is by no means old. But I TOTALLY think of you as being a much, much younger. You exude an ageless spirit!
Reading over the list of other Oct 2nd birthdays, Donna Karan and Laura Mercier popped out at me because I've used the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer and eyeshadow sticks. And I've also used Donna Karan Cashmere Mist perfume! Love them both! And I've seen Annie Leibovitz's VOGUE covers. Amazing!
"In other words, rather than directing my life to go a certain way, I allow myself to be directed. " -- I'm beginning to learn that.
Thank you for being you, Ron. And thank you for sharing your way of living your life because I always learn so many things from your outlook. Wishing you many, many more years of ageless spirit! xox
Ha! Thank you for the birthday song, Denise! I had such a nice birthday, both on Monday and yesterday. My dear friend Kelly and I got together and just hung out in the park, sipping some coffee; eating Luna bars; and just catching up. It was such a nice, relaxing day. She also got me my very first DUTCH OVEN for when I make soups. I was so freaking excited because I've always wanted one of those things. I can't wait to christen it later this week!
ReplyDelete"I've used the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer and eyeshadow sticks. And I've also used Donna Karan Cashmere Mist perfume! Love them both! And I've seen Annie Leibovitz's VOGUE covers. Amazing!"
OMG, you crack me up with your beaty product obsession!!!!! And yup, I am very familiar with both those products. In fact (and don't tell anyone this), I used to use the Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Deodorant! But I stopped using it because it went up to $32.00!!!! Also, I don't use antiperspirants anymore. Only deodorants.
Thanks so much for stopping by this morning, my friend. And thanks for you sweet, kind words.
Have a FAB week!
X
Ron, I just stopped by to read your reply to my comment and realized that I never wished you a Happy Birthday. Duh!
ReplyDeleteSo, HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, RON!!!!!
Thank you, Daniel! And no worries, I knew you wished me a happy birthday, just from your kind comment.
ReplyDeleteHAPPY BIRTHDAY, my dear friend!!!! You are apparently in good company with that birth date!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your life philosophy, my friend. We learn from the past and we grow from it. If we had that sort of wisdom in our youth, I’m not sure our teens/twenties would have been much fun! 🤓
I’ve never been one to set long-term goals either (no thank you to New Year’s resolutions). The older I get, the more I just ‘go with the flow.’ So much of life depends on other people who we can NEVER control. Once I learned that lesson, it was easier to live my life. When I feel the nudge, like you mentioned, to do something, I just do it. I’m not going to berate myself for not feeling the need to do what others do! It’s a beautiful way to live.
I hope this new year brings you lots of peace and joy, Ron. Much love to you!
Aw....thank you so much, dear friend! X
ReplyDelete"We learn from the past and we grow from it. If we had that sort of wisdom in our youth, I’m not sure our teens/twenties would have been much fun! 🤓"
You are absolutely right about that!!!! Wisdom comes with aging. It's a process of learning as we go along.
I freaking LOVE what you said here...
"The older I get, the more I just ‘go with the flow.’ So much of life depends on other people who we can NEVER control. Once I learned that lesson, it was easier to live my life. When I feel the nudge, like you mentioned, to do something, I just do it. I’m not going to berate myself for not feeling the need to do what others do! It’s a beautiful way to live."
Bravo! And meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee too! I believe that comparing yourself to others only keeps you from becoming the person and living the life you were meant to live. We are all different, so it's impossible to compare.
Thanks so much for stopping, sharing your wisdom, and for your well-wishes!
X ya, my friend!
Hello, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY my friend!! Well, belated... but we can celebrate each other any day and I celebrate you today, dear Ron!!! xoxo Don't worry, I won't sing and ruin it!
ReplyDeleteYou have a wonderful ageless quality so you could be 48 or 68 or 88 and you'd still seem the same. Gentle, happy, funny, curious, etc! Following where life takes you can be a wonderful and quite interesting experience. Some are afraid to live without always trying to manage and control everything. Too easy to get frustrated that way! Let it go... let it flow! Days like that always do feel a bit lighter.
You're in good birthday company! I share my day with Harpo Marx and Boris Karloff, which I think is cool.
I absolutely love my birthday (altho this year it's on Thanksgiving so since I can't compete with all the turkeys, I'll just take Friday & Saturday instead! haha)
I hope you enjoy many, many more marvelous trips around the sun!!
Hugs, Mary
First and foremost, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RON!! So many wonderful people share your birthday! They are extremely lucky. 😘❤️💕
ReplyDeleteThen there's the river! THE RIVER! YES! This is how I've been living my life since 2022. I read Lao Tzu's quote, "How do you follow the course of your life if you do not let it flow?" and it changed my life. Since then, I've imagined myself sitting in a canoe on my river of life. I now see you on my river as well. ❤️
Thank you for tagging that lovely lady on Instagram. I've started following the account. I saw that video last week during a bad day and just ignored it. However, seeing it today made me so happy. I was supposed to see it last week, and the fact that you're sharing it here proves that I was. Oh, my friend. We are so intertwined. This is amazing.
It's your birthday month, friend! LIVE IT UP!! ❤️❤️😘😘
I'm glad you had a lovely birthday, Ron. I hope you indulged in a cake, something pumpkin, and maybe ice cream (and managed to get outside to enjoy the cooler Fall leaves, too!)
ReplyDeleteWhat is it they say? "Man plans, and God laughs." I suspect you learned that early on, huh? While it can be helpful to organize your time (and your stuff!), many times, we're at the mercy of a Higher Power. Especially as to what happens to knock us off course, or send us down a different path. And, while I'd never recommend waltzing willy-nilly through life with no plan at all, I think you're wise to remain open to detours and changed plans. Besides, sometimes it's the paths we wouldn't have chosen (if we'd had the choice) that often turn up best for us!
Happy Birthday, my friend! xx
Thank you, Mary! X You're first sentence made me LOL! And I agree, we can celebrate our birthdays any day. And sometimes we can celebrate it all month! HA!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your sweet, kind, and encouraging words, my friend.
"Some are afraid to live without always trying to manage and control everything. Too easy to get frustrated that way! Let it go... let it flow! Days like that always do feel a bit lighter."
Yup, I agree! And I learned that very early on in my life. It seems that all the different careers I've had (and one of them being an acting career) taught me that nothing is certain. You just have to take one step at a time and stay open to the various paths (and detours) life gives you.
"I share my day with Harpo Marx and Boris Karloff"
That's AWESOME! And this is ironic because GROUCHO MARX shares my birthday!!!!
Your birthday in on Thanksgiving this year? How wonderful is that? Giving thanks for being born on THANKSGIVING DAY!!!!
Thanks a bunch for stopping by, Mary. Hope you're having a super week and enjoying the horrendous heatwave we're having here. That's okay though, because next week it goes back down to the 60s and 50s!
X
Aw.....thank you so much, Kari! X
ReplyDeleteI was shocked about Gandhi!
"Then there's the river! THE RIVER! YES! This is how I've been living my life since 2022. I read Lao Tzu's quote, "How do you follow the course of your life if you do not let it flow?" and it changed my life. Since then, I've imagined myself sitting in a canoe on my river of life. I now see you on my river as well. ❤️"
That's INCREDIBLE! You see! INTERTWINED! And this is yet another thing that you and I have in common - the river!!!! I understand that for some people that way of viewing life may seem very passive. However, I find that living that way takes a lot courage because you have to surrender. And surrendering makes a lot of people feel out of control.
Thanks oodles for stopping by and for your friendship! Muchly appreciated!
Have a FAB week!
X
Thank you, Debbie!
ReplyDelete" I hope you indulged in a cake, something pumpkin, and maybe ice cream (and managed to get outside to enjoy the cooler Fall leaves, too!)"
OMG, I so wish the weather to be cooler. But at the moment (last week and this week), we're experiencing unseasonal heat. Today it's over 85 degrees. Next week though, it goes back down into the 50s and 60s. And still NO fall leaves as of yet.
"What is it they say? "Man plans, and God laughs." Many times, we're at the mercy of a Higher Power. Especially as to what happens to knock us off course, or send us down a different path. I think you're wise to remain open to detours and changed plans. Besides, sometimes it's the paths we wouldn't have chosen (if we'd had the choice) that often turn up best for us!"
Soooooooooooooooooo true! I've accepted of myself that I do not always know what's best for me. I may THINK I do, but I don't. And I realize that because so many times what I wanted (and neve got) something, it ended up being for the best. Because it left me open to something far greater!
Much thanks for stopping by, my friend. Have a faaaaaaabulous rest of your week!
X
CONGRAULATIONS and HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RON!!!!! You and I are the same age, I turn 68 next month. Isn't it something how as you age, you still feel like a 20-year-old? It's like you body ages, but your state of mind and spirit remains the same. I remember my mother telling me that when I was a kid. She was only 55 and I thought that was SO OLD. LOL!
ReplyDeleteYou have such a positive outlook on life. Tell me, were your parents the same? That's why you stay so young at heart, you keep your inner child.
Loved the Instagram clip and the woman being interviewed. And she's like me, a New Yorker! Gorgeous jewelry she had on. And I'm assuming that she made it?
Sounds like you had a great birthday on Monday. And do what I do, celebrate it ALL month. Lol!
Wishing you all the best in love, health and adventure this year, Ron! xoxo
Hellooooooooooo there, Elaine! And thank you so much X
ReplyDeleteYou turn 68 next month? That's awesome! You're right, even as our body ages, we still feel young at heart. And that's something I always want to hang on to because it keeps me curious and involved in life!
"I remember my mother telling me that when I was a kid. She was only 55 and I thought that was SO OLD. LOL!"
OMG, I had something similar when I was a kid. My mother told me that a friend of a friend suddenly passed away at only 40 years old. And that time I think I was probably about 13 years old, so to me 40 seemed ANCIENT. Ha!!
"Loved the Instagram clip and the woman being interviewed. And she's like me, a New Yorker! Gorgeous jewelry she had on. And I'm assuming that she made it?"
Isn't she lovely? And yes, I also assumed that the jewelry she was wearing SHE made because she mentioned her love of making jewelry. And it was faaaaaabulous, wasn't it?
And thanks exactly what I'm doing. Celebrating all month by doing things that make me happy.
Thanks again for stopping by and for you well wished, my almost 68 year old friend! Have a great week!
X
Ron, I used to use the deodorant too. That is until the price got ridiculous! Sometimes in Macy's, they would have a special sale where you would buy two and get the third one free. But I'm over spending that much money for a deodorant. Do you remember the DK fragrance, Black Cashmere? Loved it!
ReplyDeleteI SURE do remember that fragrance! And I used to wear it. I loved how dark and rich it smelled. It was nothing like Cashmere Mist. I used to get so many compliments whenever I wore it too. I'm bummed that it's no longer made. :(
ReplyDeleteRon, a HUGE Happy Birthday from both me and my girlfriend! Like so many other already said in their comments, you're AGELESS! I don't ever think of an "age" when I think of you or talk about you to others. You're just, Being Ron!
ReplyDeleteI've been inspired and learned so much from you over these years. You're my muse! You're outlook on life is what I want for myself. And regardless of what you've been through, and you've been through a lot in your life, you always see the "positive".
That quote about the river I will be printing out and placing it where I can see it first thing in the morning as a reminder.
Thanks for being you, dude! You da' BOMB!
Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hiya, Matt!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU, buddy! Thank you for your kind, supportive, and loving words. They actually made me a bit teary-eyed.
I can't tell you how blessed I feel in knowing you all these years (you AND your girlfriend).
You da' BOMB too!
Hope you're having a fantabulous week, and thanks so much for stopping by!
X
Happy (belated) 🎂 Birthday wishes to you, Ron, and thanks for sharing your views on life and gratitude. Too many people, sometimes even myself, talk about regrets which is a backwards and not forward way of thinking.
ReplyDeleteThese days, setting goals is something I never do, except when it comes to completing a few household chores as there are no laundry or household fairies😉.
Thank you so much, D!
ReplyDelete"Too many people, sometimes even myself, talk about regrets which is a backwards and not forward way of thinking."
I LOVE how you expressed that because you are spot on! True, regret is a backwards (not forward) way of thinking. And I feel that it regret keeps you there. As long as I feel that I have learned something from my past, I'm totally okay with whatever happened.
"except when it comes to completing a few household chores as there are no laundry or household fairies😉."
LOL! I agree!
Thanks again for stopping by, and have a wonderful weekend!'
X