I view celebrating a birthday just like celebrating the New Year. It is a time of reflection to look back and evaluate my successes, failures, and lessons learned. By having a birthday in January, I am doing a self-examination twice in the same month.  Sheesh, I should be close to perfect….LOL

No matter how much I think I know, I am still amazed at how much I am still learning. My belief is everyday I should learn something about myself or learn something to help navigate me through life. My life over the last 46 years has been full of great people, great events, and not so great people and events. My prayer every morning is that I get the lesson from every interaction and experience so I can become a better man. One thing I have absolutely learned is experience is a good teacher.

This past year I encountered people and experiences that were new, so I walked away with great new life lessons. These lessons have helped me grow and let me know that I am still a work in progress. I used to believe that my age meant I was grown and able to do and handle anything; but now I know my life is made up of a bunch of people and experiences that have helped me grow and mature as a man.

This year God has shown me that everything I do should be guided by love and that love is to be shared with others. After countless conversations with family and friends, my experiences have been a great teacher not only for me but also for others.

As I leave 45 behind and step into 46, I will be guided by love and welcome new lessons that I need to learn because I AM STILL GROWING!

If you want lasting change in your life, you must fill your life with love.

Love is the only thing that can change the unchangeable. Love invigorates. Love revitalizes. Love renews. Love refreshes. Love is the most powerful force in the universe, because God is love. It doesn’t say He has love; it says He is love. Love heals what cannot otherwise be healed. Love uplifts. Love strengthens. Love energizes. Love empowers.

~ Rick Warren