“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

I turn 51 years old on Friday, July 5.

A few weeks ago, my older daughter, Caitlin, checked the baseball schedule and noticed the Kansas City Royals have a home game against the Oakland Athletics.

Knowing how much I love baseball, she has arranged my birthday party to be a tailgate before the game. After enjoying brats and beer along with chips, baked beans, watermelon and brownies, we’ll root for our hometown team and then stay for the Friday night fireworks show.

I can’t think of a better way to spend my birthday – family, a couple of cold beers and maybe a Royals win!

With 50 birthdays behind me, the lesson of enjoying the present moment is one of the most amazing life lessons I’ve learned. Age certainly gives me the capacity to experience these lessons with a keener appreciation and the awareness to hold them a little closer to my heart.

So, along with the bratwurst, balls & strikes and fireworks, the following life lessons are the ones I will root for the loudest on Friday night and on each night for the rest of life.

Live right now
You can’t change the past or control the future, but you can give your mind, heart and soul to what is happening right now.

Consider your commitments seriously
Before committing, be convinced; be absolutely sure it’s what you want to do.

Trust recovers slowly
When temptation wins over common sense, trust will return, but cautiously. Be patient. Wait for it. And when trust recovers, put it in a safe place and away from what you know will challenge it again.

Ask to be carried
When you feel weary, allow yourself to fall into the arms of someone stronger and asked to be carried. Your burdens don’t feel heavy to others when their love is used to lift you up.

You see what your create
In misery you see the enemy; in grace you see the possibility.

You don’t have to run 100 miles an hour
Be Still. Listen. Allow the light to find you. Rushing at 100 miles an hour looking for peace will cause you to miss the fact it’s standing in front of you.

Faith never lets go
The next time you fell like giving up, extend your hand; the first thing you grab will be your faith. Hold on to it and know it will always hold on to you.

It’s not about where you’ve been; it’s about where you will be taken
Your past doesn’t define who you can be in this moment. Use the present, this very second, to decide who you want to be and then start heading in that direction.

You are worthy to have what you want
Peace, love and happiness aren’t for everybody but you. You are worthy to have to your heart’s desire, too – all you have to do is ask.

There is love or fear
You have a choice: Live in love or live in fear. There is no in-between.

About Alex Blackwell

Alex Blackwell is a father, husband and writer. He writes about inspiring things at The BridgeMaker.
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