It’s My Birthday
- Rosetta Mandisa
- Sep 28, 2019
- 3 min read
Recently, I was watching James Corden interview Mr. Billy Porter. I love both of these men and watching their friendship and banter always puts a smile on my face. In the interview James wished Billy a Happy Birthday and asked how he felt about his birthday. Billy’s reply was absolutely perfect! Billy stated that he was a member of the 50’s club and that it is true what his friends had been telling him for years, ‘when you turn 50, you no longer give two flips (Billy didn’t say flips so feel free to insert any word you think fits) about what peo
ple think or say about you.
Reflecting on my life today as I turn forty-six years old, I think Billy’s words are beginning to take root in me. I am growing in ways I could have only dreamed of years ago. Spiritually, mentally and physically, life is being good to me. I am learning that people’s thoughts and opinions of me are none of my business. It allows me to simply be myself and live my best life on my terms. I am not hindered by someone else’s dark cloud. That in itself is an amazing feeling.
Sometimes when you see people living life the way you’ve hoped, wished and dreamed you would, you forget that behind the scenes, they’ve worked hard too. All we see is the end results, we don’t see all that was done leading up to them being successful. What I’ve learned most recently is that time is the answer. The way I see it, no one wakes up successful and living their dreams. It takes hard work, time and diligence. I am coming to understand that now. Everyone’s obstacles and challenges are not the same. We all start at different places in our lives. The key is to not quit. Yes, days, months and years may go by and it will seem as if nothing is happening. But, if you keep pushing, attacking your goal a little at a time everyday, success will happen for you too.
I had a conversation with our oldest son not too long ago and he was very much feeling frustrated and overwhelmed with some challenges he was facing. I asked him a question a wise person once asked me. “How do you eat an elephant?” Of course, his reply was, “huh?” When I said, “you eat an elephant one bite at a time.” His reply was, “oh, now that makes sense.” At that point we were able to talk about what he needed to do and how he could organize those things into smaller, ‘bite sized pieces’. While all of the things needed to get done, they didn’t all have to get done at the same time.
Talking to my kids is always a great reminder to me of all the wisdom I’ve come to know and understand. I can now pass these nuggets on to them and while I am encouraging them, I am encouraging myself as well. So, as I am celebrate my birthday today, I am thinking of all I am blessed with, all that God has blessed me to give to others and all that I still have to look forward to.
May God continue to bless all of you…:)
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