My birthday is coming up.  I woke up with the prompting to write a letter to myself. I’d highly recommend trying this on your next birthday.

Dear Lisa,

On your 38^th birthday…

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Ahhhhh….Dear One, happy birthday!  Do you remember when you were little, on a hot August day, you’d announce to your mom, “I know what I want to do for my birthday (in January)?”  Maybe that was Grandma Clara’s promptings moving in you.  August was the month she died while you were nestled in mom’s belly.  Maybe, for your family, August is a month where birth (Julie’s birth) and hope (the promise of your arrival) triumph over death.  And maybe Clara had a hand in prompting these birthday delights to be had in five months.

Today, as you wake up, life is goooood.  What loveliness you have all around you, cushioning you.  ALL OF LIFE is saying to you, “Here, drink such loveliness.  Wrap yourself in this warm, sparkling shawl.  You are surrounded with softness.  Deep calm and delight can spring forth from you and into this world, transforming it in little and big ways with gentle, powerful love.  And you don’t have to DO anything except BE, listen and respond from a place of delight within you.  No pushing the boulder up the hill.  Now we are about the water element – jumping into the river…and flowing along with it.”

You are cushioned, Love.  Your husband…ahhhh, what deep love can do to nourish a body and soul.  His love is the alchemy for parched, dry bones, the worries of decades ago, the Capricorn goat “pushing the boulder up the hill” mentality.  His love is the calm flowing through you, the softness lubricating your bones and heart, the nourishing sweetness that bubbles up from you and is offered to others.  It is good to be reminded of that.

And your family.  Your dear friends – those blossoming right here and those we’ve known for years – they are roots running deep.  And as of late, once again, you sense the mystical forces that have been with you from before time.  All cushioning you.

You are wrapped in love and light.  And what is emerging?

We have no plans anymore.

For years, you have only been able to see just so far in front of you – from only the kitchen table to the dirty dishes in the sink!  You have heard God saying, “Just right here.  That’s all I’m revealing.”  You got it.  And, yes, there are still “knowings” within you – for you, your kiddos and Brian.  But the specifics of how that plays out…you are just open.  Totally open.  Ready.  Not searching. Just listening and saying, “Ok”, and being awake to/grateful for what IS right now.

What is emerging?  Joy…softly glowing.

What a great way to begin another year, Dear One.  Happy Birthday.