On this, my 54th birthday, I will reflect on something
I wrote twelve years ago -- my own "mission statement."

It goes like this:

"To love and be loved,
To learn and to teach,
To walk the path with heart,
To stretch beyond my reach.

To change and be changed,
To make the world a better place.
To move, to grow, and through it all,
To live my life with grace."

I found this beautiful rose outside
and brought it home in a photograph
to gave to myself, for my birthday.

I hope you enjoy it too!