Aquarius Season Birthday Lessons: Advice Learned thus Far

Reflection on the journey of life through lessons learned.

David LaChapelle’s ‘Paradise’ for the Washington Post, 2019

Hello beautiful people and welcome to the assembly.

This post is a personal reflection that I am glad to share with my audience. I hope my story is one that people can relate to and possibly be inspired by. Aquarius season has concluded and now we continue into the dreamy Piscean season. This aqua season was one for the books, full of love and gratitude.

My solar return, as known as my birthday, occurs on Valentine’s Day. I am grateful to experience another year, knowing that many people across the country and the globe did not get the chance. I did not believe I would be alive for this long, but life and the ways of the universe had other plans for me. I am proud to say as I reflect that I have done so much work. I have fought tirelessly to dig myself out of the deep hole of depression and conquered immense opposition. I am still working to get to where I want to be, but I am so proud of myself for doing the damn thing and having the courage to live in a world full of dismay. Around my birthday I typically reflect on how much I have grown in the past year, but this year I could exist in feeling hopeful about the future. This is one of the first years I have looked forward, embodying that I trust in myself and where I am going. I implore anyone, especially the anxious types who overthink or worry about the future, that around your birthday, sit in the present moment and allow yourself to shine where you are and be celebrated. Even if you do it alone, it’s admirable to acknowledge how much you have overcome to get to this moment. This letter will serve as my reflection on lessons I have learned.

Here are some of the lessons I have learned over the years that keep me grounded:

• Everyone is trying their best, coming to all present situations with what they have experienced thus far, and what has kept them safe thus far.

  • That being said, that does not excuse anyone’s harmful behavior, toward you or otherwise. Protect yourself and your energy by all means.

• Be kind. Not only to yourself but to others, even when they are rude to you. Most times, it is not worth escaping your character to meet people in the low vibrational place they exist in. (Except… the rare moments when someone deserves to be collected but do it with truth and love.)

• Sometimes it’s best to allow people to believe they have one up on you. Bow out gracefully and observe actions.

• KNOW THYSELF. Once you do, no one can attempt to instill into you what they want you to be. Allow their interpretations and opinions of who you are to be incorrect, you do not have to prove yourself to people who choose not to see you.

• Beauty is more than fashion and what is external. Beauty is a radiation of the soul and spirit. Be a beautiful person and beauty shines through you, it is not something faked.

• Chasing external love will lead you to destruction. Love yourself above all else, exist in love, then it comes to you. Build yourself into someone worth loving.

• Things should not be so difficult. If it does not work, if it does not fit, if it’s too much - work to reconstruct it or eliminate it.

• Actions will always speak louder than words.

• Intuition is key. If something feels off, more than likely it is.

• Your thoughts are not your reality. Mind your thoughts and remember, they are just thoughts, nothing else.

• Being a human and human life is so unserious and nonsensical. Life is purposeless until you give it purpose.

• Have fun, you deserve to - in all situations! Explore life and all it has to offer.

• Remember it’s okay to fall, fail, and be embarrassed, just as much as it is okay to succeed, accomplish and be incredible. You have to pick yourself up and continue.

• Find self-worth intrinsically, based on your character and actions where it matters. What makes you unique is what matters. Do not seek worth externally -your career, relationships, or online presence are all fleeting. Ultimately, you have to sit and be with yourself at the end of the day. Make sure you like yourself.

• People have seasons, they come and go. Enjoy them while you can and let any relationships that no longer serve you fall out with love. Not everything has to be a conflict.

• Keep your passions and dreams alive, especially in the face of immense opposition. People will try their darndest to kill your spirit, because their spirit has been killed. DO NOT LET THEM.

• Friends and networks are so important. Keep those who matter most close to you. Times will not always be the best, but the best relationships are with those who get to see all sides of you, where conflict is resolved and change is made reciprocally.

• Stop sustaining things that do not sustain you. If it is one-sided, leave. If you are not getting poured back into, in any way - leave.

• Learn to self-regulate and stop putting all your traumas on your loved ones. Get a therapist, or life coach, or find a support group. It may be harsh to hear, but no one truly cares about what’s going on with you. We all have our struggles, and they cannot always relieve you of your suffering. Learn from your suffering and move forward.

• Cherish the things that ground you and keep them with you. Remember them and assemble an artisanal to go back to when you need these activities to keep you sane.

• You are worthy of all the best that life has to offer, nothing less and only more.

• Don’t take things personally or at least try your best not to. Most times, people’s behavior has nothing to do with you. Unless they try to make it seem like it’s about you, don’t take on their attitudes.

• Be careful of what you ingest - whether that be food, content, drinks, substances, or whatever. Fill your mind, body and spirit with things that are nourish you.

• Life is too short to spend it worrying. Live authentically and live your truth and the rest will follow.

That concludes some of the most important life lessons I have learned thus far. What is some life advice that has stuck with you and helped you grow throughout your life? Leave it in the comments! I love hearing advice given to others so I can apply it to my life. You know we’re here to grow each other, so I’m excited to read what others have learned.

Until next time, assembly dismissed!