Masterpiece

Contributed by Stephanie Staples at Your Life Unlimited

You need not set out to create a masterpiece my friend; you are one. Your mere presence in the world has changed everything… while having very little to do with the whole global warming business – he he! –kobus de jonge

Another birthday has just passed me by, always a good time for reflection I say. I write a list each year, goals that I want to accomplish, things I want to do. As I look back on my list from last year, I check off some things as done, I scratch off some things that aren’t important to me anymore and add some new ones to the list. It’s interesting to see the list change as the years pass.

Last year the big goal was to run my first (and God help me, I hope my only) full marathon. This year it was scaling the Andes on the Inca Trail in Peru. After the first day on that four day trek, I decided to ‘retire’ from all these silly stunts, from pushing myself. I declared that I had nothing left to prove to anyone and didn’t have to do this ‘stuff’ anymore. I was done! But by day four – like giving birth, it didn’t seem so bad and I wondered what was next.

I realized I’m not pushing myself to have a story to tell, to set a good example or to prove anything to anyone. I’m doing it because I can. Because I want to. Because it’s who I am.

That feels good.

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This year, as I reflect, I am so grateful my Mom, at 92, is happy and healthy. She had me at 40 – some might say I was ‘an accident’ but she calls me her ‘Angel of the Lord’ – and that’s pretty irreplaceable.

My three kids are grown and capable, independent and contributing members of society. They don’t need me much anymore, but I know that even though they have other loves in their lives, no one can ever love them as much as and as unconditionally as I do.

The Hub – as we creep into the 30 years married mark (in a row!), this guy still thinks I’m beautiful and tells me so daily. Everyday he makes my life easier and still loves me even when he see’s my ugly side that the public isn’t privy to.

That we have moved our life across the country, gave away almost all of our belongings and are making a new life within our old life, finding a new ebb and flow on the west coast, setting our calendars to the tides and resetting this life – just us, without our kids at the core. Odd but wonderful.

And so as I slide into my 52nd year, while I have health and opportunity on my side, I shall continue to live my life in my own wacky and wonderful way – imperfectly perfect for me.

My birthday wish is that I hope you will do the same for yourself, create a perfectly imperfect life (and you) you love.

Happy Birthday.

Now read this quote again – slowly and let it sink in.

You need not set out to create a masterpiece my friend; you are one. Your mere presence in the world has changed everything… while having very little to do with the whole global warming business – he he! –kobus de jonge

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Stephanie Staples, CSP* is the author of When Enlightening Strikes – Creating a Mindset for Uncommon Success, an internationally acclaimed motivational speaker, and the recipient of the 2014 Manitoba Woman Entrepreneur Award for Contributions to Community. Stephanie empowers audiences & clients across North America to bring their ‘A’ game to work and to life. Stephanie has a special interest in working with and empowering nurses and healthcare providers. She happily calls Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada home. You can get loads of complimentary resources to help with issues such as work/life balance, wellness, stress management and happiness in general, as well as find out more information about her coaching and speaking services at http://www.YourLifeUnlimited.ca.

* Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), conferred by the National Speakers Association is the speaking profession’s international measure of professional platform proficiency. Less than 10 percent of speakers have earned this credential and are recognized as some of the best in their fields. Stephanie was one of only five professional speakers in Canada (and the only woman) to attain this designation in 2013.

The post Masterpiece first appeared on Your Life Unlimited.

Contributed by Stephanie Staples at Your Life Unlimited