August 5, 2006
Dear Athena
Happy Freakin Birthday!!!
This letter is for you to read one year from now.
Happy first birthday going on 27. Today is the beginning of the rest of your life. I don’t know where you’re going or even how you’re going to get there, but Holy Shit! The ride is fantastic. Not to say it doesn’t suck from time to time, that it doesn’t have heartbreak-heartache and really tough patches but it also has Love, and Love makes it all worth it. It has adventure, mystery, learning curves and fabulous moments of laughter, awe and inspiration.
Life is the process of creation!
CREATE!
Create the life you want!
Look at it this way. If you only get one lifetime, why not make of it all you wanted? And if this lifetime is only one in a string of many, why not test out the theory that you can have everything you want, that way if it sucks, you’ll know for the next trip through.
Either way – NO SPOILERS PLEASE!!
What fun is there in knowing the ending in advance? Keep in mind that there’s always foreshadowing and you have pretty damn impressive intuition that reads the signs fairly well so make your decisions based on the factors and then trust the Universe to take it from there.
Create the magic you want.
Create the opportunities you want.
Create the illusions you want and erase the ones you don’t.
Manifest your own destiny.
Write.
Be kind to yourself. There’s only one of you, so treat yourself with the love you would show another, the compassion you are so willing to show everyone else – show it to yourself or it’s all just talk. Give yourself the forgiveness that comes so easily when you’re in love, and the encouragement to fulfill your dreams that you so generously dole out to your companions and family. If you can’t do these things for yourself, then when you do it for others, it’s sort of a hollow and meaningless gesture that leaves you feeling drained and empty. Give to yourself – so you can love others better.
Believe.
Believe in the magic of your own two hands, your heart and the spirit that has made you a survivor.
Believe in the beauty of your soul, the world, the Universe and your neighbors.
Believe in all possibilities – Even the improbable ones.
Believe in yourself.
Believe in fairies, they believe in you.
Believe in your visions, even the grandiose ones.
Believe you are worthy of whatever you want, that you’ll find whatever you seek, and you’ll be guided by the Universe, sheltered by love and empowered by your own sense of infinity. Believe in happy endings, especially your own.
Write!
Love.
Love everything. Even spinach.
Love Portland, and the green places of the world, the city lights at night and the wind on the bluff near Valdez. Love your family. Love your friends. Love the rain on your face and the curve of your breasts. Love your obnoxious dog, Hercules.
Love that you love challenges even though you curse them in the heat of your stretching. Love books, art, and the glory of the written word. Love singing, playing, laughter and dancing. Love people and solitude and the sound of friends who are enjoying each other’s company. Love your body. Cherish it. It’s the one thing you can call yours no matter how bad or good things get.
Love and you will be loved in return.
Laugh.
That goes without saying, but hey, when you want to cry – try to laugh instead. When you want to scream, try laughing. When you want to laugh, don’t hold back. Memories worth keeping are always framed with laughter.
Treasure.
Seek to find treasure; seek to treasure all things you find – for value is subjective.
Trust.
Trust yourself. Trust in the Universe.
Don’t look back, unless it’s to check a blind spot, but always keep one eye on the road so you don’t rear-end someone or hit a wall.
Live in the moment.
Now and again as life picks up speed, you’ll get caught in the illusion of the matrix. Live it, but when it becomes a rut, pick up and move on. It’s exhilarating to live in the moment, sometimes terrifying and almost always worth it. Don’t fear change, it’s your evolution in progress. Don’t fear death, it is your birth. Don’t fear making the wrong decisions because there are none. There is no right choice or wrong choice, there is simply – choice.
Truth!
Truth is your drawbridge. Always keep it down so that you may cross and others may come to you. Don’t let lies, half-truths and deception erode your bridge, because when you need to cross that chasms, truth will always get you there. Otherwise you’re at the mercy of others to extend their truth to you. Be truthful, to yourself, to others.
Write!
Honor!
Honor yourself. Honor your progress. Honor your own personal sense of honor, no matter what it costs and who disagrees. This too is yours when things are at their best or worst. Honor your vision.
Remember where you’ve come from.
Look out for drama.
Embrace change and do away with static.
Remember cliché’s, there’s truth in them even if they’re overused.
Like – Dream big and remember it’s still probably too small.
Travel.
Learn.
Inspire.
Be ready for love to enter your life at any moment.
When it gets bad… Remember to keep getting up. I know you won’t want to, but you MUST. It will get easier at some point.
Envision.
Be optimistic.
Eat leafy greens, boost your iron.
Make love to yourself.
Romance your inner child and be your own rescuer of your damsel.
Exercise.
Pray.
Wear sunscreen, even when you don’t want to.
Remember to take time and feel the wind in your hair.
Be spontaneous.
Meditate.
Eat every two-three hours to keep your glucose up.
Take your Thyroid pills.
Make art.
Read.
Forget that stupid word: “Can’t”. Replace it with, “Let’s do this thing.”
Journey, and enjoy the journey, don’t focus on the destination so much as the scenery and who you’re traveling with.
Pick up pennies when you see then.
There is such thing as luck.
Make offerings to the Ravens and the Crows.
WRITE!
Skydive.
Get over your fear of spiders.
Keep the plants around you alive.
Wear makeup and do your hair, it often makes you feel better.
Swim.
Think back to this time as a remembrance and to honor yourself.
You are moving in to your new place today. Crying over lost dreams with Reggie still, but optimistic. You have tons of friends and family who love you. A job you like in an environment that’s healthy. You’re signing up for school, and planning two huge projects to heal your soul and the souls of others who are lost. You’re gaining control of your health. You’re being social. You still love – and although you’re angry – you’re not bitter… keep it that way.
You’re planning to launch yourself and your dreams and are setting the path before you so you remember; this is the illusion. Don’t get too comfortable here. This stage is not your life; it’s the birth of your new self. Heal, grow and be ready to seize the moment when the next phase begins in a few months.
Don’t dig a rut or think you are trapped. You’re only ever as trapped as you think you are. You’re only ever as weak as you think you are. You’re only as foolish as you think you are.
So be Free.
Be Strong.
Be Wise.
And above all…
BE YOURSELF!!!
I love you Athena, read this as often as you need to and on your birthday next year, compare notes. Stay in touch with yourself, cuz as you know… when you lose you, it’s really tough to find yourself again, and there’s a lot of catching up to do.
Love,
Athena
P.S. When you manifest destiny, try and be as specific as possible. And when you’re ever at a crossroad and you’re scared, hum a song. And when you think you’re going under – reach out for help. And when you’re lost ask the Universe for a signpost.
And when you need a good laugh, or something to put a smile on your face, reinvent the situation from another point of view. OR sing the Pirate song, take a drive in Artemis, or watch Pirates of the Caribbean OR Under the Tuscan Sun. These are guaranteed smile makers and tear purgers.
But the best P.S. I can think of right now is this; there’s magic all around you. When you forget, and you probably will – take a walk down to the river or to the beach and ask Freya to remind you. Breathe in the wind; let the air bring your fire back to life.
BTW:
Did I mention that you should WRITE? And remember, when you wake up- there will be ladybugs.
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