Wow, I’m overwhelmed!  So many guys and gals, friends and family wished me a Happy Birthday #44 yesterday that I couldn’t keep up!

Thanks to Susie, Helga, Trina, Royce, Teri, Kristie, Casey, Cecilia, Sheila, Kathleen, Lisa, Jana, Ginny, Robin, Judy, Jennifer, Chris, Mary, Sharon, Jenny, Paul, Kim, Elizabeth, Art, Tracy, Stephen, Sara, Janet, Cindy, Wilma, Chee, Jennifer, Carol, Colleen, Amy, Leslie, Mom, Dad, Charley, Angeline, Abigail, Len, Nhat, Christine, Ann and Eryn!

Here's a photos  of me and my Dad blowing out candles on our mutual birthday cake.  His b'day is today!

At the anniversary of my latest 365 days around the sun I got to thinking about what was going on in my life today to 10 and 20 years ago.

Today, at 44 years old, I’m an author of 2 books and am about to write my third.  I speak all over the country inspiring women and never thought I’d be creating nail colors with companion CDs about how to live like that nail color, but I am and I love it.  I live with a man who is crazy about me and I’m stuck on him.  I’m more comfortable with myself than ever and between my family, Crazy Glue, terrific neighbors, and fun friends, my life is filled with love and support.

Ten years ago I was 34.  I had just gotten divorced and ended an abusive marriage.  At the same time I left a successful 10 year career at AOL and started grad school.  I was making major changes in my life that were good for me.  I called it being bodacious.   

Twenty years ago I was 24.  Fresh out of engineering school and living in the "big city" of metro Washington, DC for the first time.  All I really knew was that I didn’t want to be an engineer, that I wanted to do something I loved, and that I had bills to pay.  So, when I was offered an $8 an hour customer service job at some unknown computer start-up I accepted.  When I started working at AOL I fell in love with their contagious enthusiasm.  I thought my time there would be three months.  I stayed 10 and a half years and had the career ride of my life!

By distilling the last 20 years in this way, it hit me:

At 24 years old I learned to love my work. 
At 34 years old I learned to love myself in a bold, new way. 
By 44 years old I had fully opened myself to being in love.

It took me 20 years, but I finally figured out the basics for a successful, bodacious. live like your nail color kinda life:

Love what you do.
Love who you are.
Love who you’re with.

“God, can you please stop time right now and let me linger here for a long, long, long time?!”

“What?  No?!  Oh my G… oops, guess that’s not the best response.”

Well, despite the fact that life keeps rolling on, and circumstances change, the good thing is that love remains.   Thank YOU for being a part of my journey.  And thanks for the LOVE!

Cheers,

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