Beauty Buzz/Blog Biz | Candles Of Wisdom
“Today you have added another candle of knowledge and wisdom to your life. May it give you the power to enlighten the whole world.”
~Debasish Mridha
This month, August, I will celebrate another birthday. Birthdays are always a time to reflect on where you have been and where you are going.
I must admit that it is amazing to me to think about how many years have gone by. I can easily recall so many birthdays of the past. Growing up it was always tacos and a cake made by Mom. In my 20’s it was fun with friends, 30’s and 40’s always involved family and work celebrations. My daughter used to write poems for her Dad and I (I miss those). My work friends always made my favorite foods.
Now, I’ve somehow slipped into the 50’s… and I wonder how the years flew by so quickly. Everyone warns you this will happen… but you don’t realize it until you have experienced it. This year I am celebrating my birthday with my niece who will be 16. We are getting a big water slide! Yes, I am just hoping not to break any bones… but it will be fun!
“Every age can be enchanting, provided you live within it.”
~Brigitte Bardot
One thing I do know is that the years have added wisdom and knowledge to my life. If only I had of known what I know now when I was younger. The major pearls of wisdom I’ve learned and want to share are:
- Live authentically and honor who you were created by God to be.
- Be a life-long learner.
- Choices equal results. Make decisions wisely.
- Everyone is facing a challenge… even if we can’t see it, so be compassionate.
- Live your life with passion. Find a way to make a positive difference!
If we are open to it, and willing to learn, we can certainly develop knowledge and wisdom. I think we even have an obligation to become wiser and more informed. We need this for ourselves, but also for others. If we live authentically and in deep abiding love and compassion for ourselves and others we will lighten and enlighten our own path, but also the journey of others.
“Transitions themselves are not the issue, but how well you respond to their challenges! “
~Jim George
Life transitions will happen, but we have the ability to decide how we will respond to them. I challenge you to be positive, introspective about what you can learn in each transition, and how you can use each transition to catapult you to a new level of authenticity, love, and joy.
I leave you with these final wise words.
“Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears.”
~John Lennon
Happy birthday to me… and to you! Find the joy in every day, and create some joy for others every day!
Connecting With Sylvia On Social Media:
- Facebook: @Sylvia Stinson-Perez
- Twitter: @SylviaSPerez101
- National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision at Mississippi State University (NRTC): www.blind.msstate.edu/about
Author Bio:
Sylvia Stinson-Perez is a leader in the blindness field helping individuals and organizations succeed through innovative strategic planning and implementation. She has Master’s degrees in Social Work, Visual Disabilities Rehabilitation, and Business Administration. Sylvia is blind as a result of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), however, she believes that everyone should have the opportunity to achieve their potential, a conviction she promotes through:
- her position at the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision
- projects she leads such as Speak With Confidence public speaking training, and mentoring
- service on advisory committees and boards of directors.
Image Descriptions:
- A close up of colorful birthday candles against a yellow background.
- A closeup of a cupcake with a single candle.
- The author’s bio photo is a glam photo of Sylvia in a pink dress with spaghetti straps. Her hair is in a fancy updo with a pink flower on the left of her bun.