Clarity

As I’ve said before, I’m a big believer in milestones and new beginnings. This year, the night before my birthday, I wrote two phrases in my paper journal:

Clarity of self.
Clarity of purpose.

If I were the sort of person who taped things to my computer, I would tape those phrases. Every day, every time I make a decision or have a conversation, I want to think of those words. Clarity of self, clarity of purpose.

Clarity of self… I want to be proud of myself. I know who I am, I really do, and I know when I’m straying from the path I want to be on. I know when I’m making bad decisions, when I’m being catty, when I’m choosing easy over right. I want to revel in clarity of self. I want to be the person I love being.

Clarity of purpose… This one is harder. I have goals, but they shift and tumble and blur when I stare directly at them. Do I want to be a writer? Of course. But why? The real goal, for me, is to make a difference in other people’s lives. I want to give back some of the sense of wonder that saved me when I was young. I want to inspire girls to be strong, to love themselves, to understand that power is not a four-letter word. I want to help people, starting with my friends. I can do a lot more on this front, a whole lot more.

Birthdays are for fresh starts, for reflection, for revelations. This year, I decided to give blood on my birthday. I don’t think I’ve ever given myself a better present.

How do you celebrate your birthday?