November One Word Challenge: CELEBRATE!

Happy November, Friends!

Already it's been a busy, whirl wind sort of month. My focus this month is to CELEBRATE! Celebrate? Really? With all the hubbub and holidays coming up?  YES. Absolutely.

If you know me at all, you know that I celebrate BIRTHDAY MONTH. After all, we should be excited for each year we have the opportunity to live, to impact those around us, to experience all the amazing people, places and adventures in our lives. I mean, what's more amazing than celebrating YOU?!

I hear all the time that people don't celebrate their birthdays. I'm baffled. It's your birthday, celebrate how you want. Maybe it's being alone and enjoying a good book, a movie, or a solo hike. Maybe it's with friends sipping margs (Mango Marg at the right from Matt's El Rancho, ATX) and eating too much guacamole (which is an oxymoron, there's no such thing as too much quac!). Maybe it's dancing till your legs give out, and maybe it's having a quiet day with your family.  Whatever way you choose to celebrate, I think the most important part is to acknowledge that YOU.ARE.AMAZING. And just that is 100% worth celebrating.

This year has just zipped by - I can hardly believe that I'm coming up on a birthday and the end of the year just behind it. Just the other day it was December and I was planning a little writing project for 2019. I mean, I blinked, and it's almost a year later!

I for sure have grown and learned a ton this year, mostly about myself and the life I want to live, what and who make me happiest, and what sort of impact I want to have in the world. Of course I'm still growing and learning, leaning on mentors and industry experts, and have BIG PLANS for the rest of this year and moving into 2020. 10 events so far this year, fitness & nutrition, and writing projects, and we're just getting warmed up! More reasons to celebrate, for sure.

One of the most important lessons I'm learning, and hope to pass on to others, is EXPERIENCES OVER THINGS.

Kennebec River Views, near Augusta Maine. #theMaineEvent

I've just gotten back from 3 nearly consecutive events in October/early November (CHI, DM, ATX) and had the opportunity to tag along on a work trip with the hubster. YES PLEASE. I'm calling it "the Maine Event" - not because we had any real reason for me to be here, other than to celebrate birthday month on a trip with someone I love, exploring someplace new, and adding to my experiences bank. I had a wonderful roaming walk today, logged 13+ miles, breathed fresh air, met some DILPs (dogs I'd like to pet), took time to swing, stopped and smelled the flowers, popped in small town shops, and just soaked it all in.

And, to be honest, that is about as good as it gets, solo time wise. I'm also a people person, so there are some days when I need people and activities to recharge my batteries. This time in my life, I recognize my need for both. I haven't always been aware of what I needed to fill my cup - just what made others happy. I'm still a people-pleaser by nature, but I've learned to temper that against what I need. And it feels so good.

Y'all - take time to celebrate. Birthdays. Small wins. Big wins. Chances to learn and improve. A beautiful day. A rainy day. A good book. A great joke. A new job. A day off. Free wifi. No wifi. A long walk. A scenic drive. And the gratitude attitude just goes on and on and on and on and on.... (you get it).

So. Many. Reasons.

How will you CELEBRATE this month? 

 We'll 'chat' more soon... until then...

Ciao for now!

<3 Jen