A blank page in a new book.  The first day of 2018.  What story will we write?

Research professor and author Brené Brown said, “I think midlife is when the universe gently places her hands upon your shoulders, pulls you close, and whispers in your ear:  I’m not screwing around.  It’s time.  All of this pretending and performing – these coping mechanisms that you’ve developed to protect yourself from feeling inadequate and getting hurt – has to go.

Your armor is preventing you from growing into your gifts.  I understand that you needed these protections when you were small.  I understand that you believed your armor could help you secure all of the things you needed to feel worthy of love and belonging, but you’re still searching and you’re more lost than ever.

Time is growing short.  There are unexplored adventures ahead of you.  You can’t live the rest of your life worried about what other people think.  You were born worthy of love and belonging.  Courage and daring are coursing through you.  You were made to live and love with your whole heart.  It’s time to show up and be seen.”

So whether you make intentions, choose a word to live by, set goals for health or work or family, book trips, read books, cook healthy meals, spend more time with people who accept and challenge you, the one thing that is a must is action.  That is the game changer.

So put one foot in front of the other and get on your yoga mat or lace up your shoes or crack open the book cover or turn on the oven or pick up a pen or call the travel agent or make the reservation.  Just do it.  As Brené said, you were made to live and love with your whole heart.  It’s time to show up and be seen.

I see you.  We are all waiting to see what you’ll do next.  The best is yet to come.