What a great question. I have received lots of good advice over the years and took a moment to write to each of those persons today to thank them. This morning I saw this in my Facebook feed. What great advice, had to share:

FEAR
Khalil Gibran

It is said that before entering the sea
a river trembles with fear.

She looks back at the path she has traveled,
from the peaks of the mountains,
the long winding road crossing forests and villages.

And in front of her,
she sees an ocean so vast,
that to enter
there seems nothing more than to disappear forever.

But there is no other way.
The river can not go back.

Nobody can go back.
To go back is impossible in existence.

The river needs to take the risk
of entering the ocean
because only then will fear disappear,
because that’s where the river will know
it’s not about disappearing into the ocean,
but of becoming the ocean.

While I am immensely grateful for everything in my life, I know I do not bring any reverence to daily activities. I am go-g0-go without pausing to slow down or enjoy any of it. I see everything as a to-do list. A colleague told me to see life as a marathon not a sprint and that we are in it for the long haul and to enjoy the scenery and experience (as in a marathon) instead of just trying to get to the finish line (as in a sprint). I have to truly incorporate this into my life. Everyone that knows me well has been telling me this. Thank you for the question; another much needed reminder.

I know I am unique. I believe God looked into my mother’s womb and specially wove me and wrote every day of my life. I believe I am unique and that God has a plan for me. An Eastern philosopher put this differently “God has knelt down in whatever spot you are right now and put an X on it with your name on it. You are here because you are meant to be here, it was designed by the Divine One”. While I firmly believe I am unique, I have not been able to identify who I am and what I might share with the world. I ask myself this question very often but fail to come up with an answer. I don’t have any talents I can easily identify that will add value to the world. I know I am funny and my friends and colleagues laugh especially when I make fun of myself but that’s hardly adding value. I truly dont know how to understand who I am and what I might share. Any suggestions on how I can identify this will be truly welcome. Thank you all.

I am a very direct person and will often comment or correct and essentially point out any BS when I see it. I am seen as hard on others. A very close friend told me I am hard on others because I am hard on myself and that if I treat myself with gentleness and kindness, I will also be more diplomatic with others and not call things out as much as I do. In recent times, I am trying to bite my tongue, not comment or point out nonsense when I see it. If people make excuses, I let them make excuses. I tell myself this is their personality and it’s good to see their personality in action but I dont need to let them know, I know. Knowledge is valuable and knowing how they are is more important than telling them I know. I am not always successful biting my tongue. Today I did not manage at all. I need to work on this very actively and then see how it transforms my relationships with others and myself.