Birthday Love
Tomorrow is my birthday. 
Last year I celebrated my birthday with my mother, brother, and his family. This year, I’m working at one of my part-time jobs. And that’s OK. I’m rebuilding my finances and making choices to support that choice. Therefore, I’m living in integrity. Plus, more and more, I’m realizing the benefits of work, even when it’s not inspiring or particularly fulfilling. I’m grateful to have a job with income, coworkers, and an outlet for being productive. I’ve realized how stale and self-absorbed my life had become by not needing to work for years. I’m even seeing aspects of my journey into spiritual growth as limiting by being overly focused on me, my path, my growth, etc.
I’m realizing that I need people, relationships, and connection much more than I ever thought. Not having many models of loving relationship has made it a challenge to reach out instead of my natural impulse to isolate. I’m more comfortable to withdraw and isolate, even though it’s actually less fulfilling to do so.
So my leading edge is to practice love in relationships; to reach out to life with more love and compassion and less expectation and judgment.
May this be a year of more loving relationships.
Well, HBTY! and MANY more!! Enjoy your special day in extra special ways.
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Thanks Annette. 🙂
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Remember you always have a friend in me.
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Thanks Lee. I appreciate the support.
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Excellent, happy birthday Brad…you reveal so much more of yourself in these writings than I ever knew all the years I was around you…
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Thanks Fritzie. I’m glad you feel you’re getting to know me. blessings…
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All good things, Brad. 🙂
Happiest of birthdays to you tomorrow, my friend!
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Thanks Julie. I wish I could say I’ve planned something special, but I’ve been too busy with work.
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That’s okay, sometime just an ordinary day can be special too! 😊
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Yes, I’ve relaxed about the whole special day thing and sometimes part of me still wants to be acknowledged and treated special. Being single and having no family nearby can be lonely. And other times I love my solitude. We’re complicated creatures. 🙂
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Yes, we are. I hope tomorrow is filled with lots of love. And today! 😊
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But you must find a way to have some cake! 🎂 Haha!
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LOL. I was thinking ice cream cake! 🙂
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A Very Happy Birthday my friend! May tomorrow be the start of a fabulous year and journey ahead! Keep chasing those dreams and living life! Blessings and love!
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Thank you Neha. I am feeling more alive and hopeful than in a long time.
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So glad to hear that, may you continue feeling this way and may you always find your smile 🙂
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Thanks Neha!
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Isn’t it the truth Brad about the importance of relationships over everything else. Takes time to realize this important lesson of life.
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Yes Tom. I’m glad I finally woke up to this reality. May your relationship with Audrey thrive and flourish.
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Thank you Brad. It is a constant practice to remember what is truly important in this life and it ain’t things, lol. We hope the same for you.
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Agreed Tom. A practicing we will go! XD
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Happy (almost) Birthday Brad! Your self-reflection & insights encourages the same in your readers. Growth requires honesty from the bottom of Maslow’s Hierarchy to the top. May you continue to strive (and rest) as your fate meets your destiny. 🎈
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Thanks for your loving support Andrea. I hope my story helps others along the way. blessings, Brad
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🌹♥️🌹
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Wow! It’s like you wrote my story Brad….Right down to the birthday. Mine is memorial day(30th) and it’s funny, when I was young I used to think the parade was just for my birthday…Cruel reality when I found out no. Oh well….Life goes on. Happy Birthday and may you be successful in finding new friends. Not an easy thing to do for us who tend to isolate….Sending you good luck…. VK 🙂
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Thanks VK and Happy Birthday! May we learn to embrace others more easily, finding joy in the shared joys and challenges. Hugs and blessings.
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A very happy birthday Brad, those seem like good birthday wishes to have.
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Thanks Andrea. I’m learning to make the best of who I am and what I have.
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Happy Birthday!!!!!
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Thanks for buzzing by to bring birthday wishes! 🙂
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Happy Birthday! Best wishes🥂
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Thank you and welcome! 🙂
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Happy Birthday Brad! 💐
I do like your persepctive on the lessons from work … Belonging, relationships and contributing are so important to keep us tuned in to the word around us. 💛
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Agreed Val. Thanks for the birthday wishes. 🙂
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Happy birthday and thanks for sharing your story! 🙂 ❤
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Thanks Natalie. I’m happy to share my story and journey with you. ❤
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I hope you have a wonderful day celebrating your birthday! May it be full of blessings!!! 🙂 ❤
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Thanks Natalie! 🙂
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You’re welcome😊❤️
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🙂
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Thanks!
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Dear Brad.. Firstly wishing you a wonderful Happy Birthday!.. And many happy returns to you.
And secondly thank you for sharing this about yourself..
Its hard to reach out and share yourself, when often I know its much easier to withdraw within the sanctuary of your own BEing..
I know in my bones that this year will unfold lots more wonderful sharing surprises to come your way.. This post in sharing your thoughts and intentions is a great step to gathering to you, your future goals..
Much love and again I hope you have a wonderful Day despite having to work..
Blessings
Sue 🙂 🎂💜
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Thank you Sue. I appreciate you, your birthday wishes and continued support and encouragement. I look forward to more loving surprises and relationships. Off to work I go! Hugs and blessings.
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Have a great day Brad.. 🙂
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Happy Birthday, Brad! May you have the joy of knowing that whatever you are trying to do in life – you are doing a great job! Much Birthday Love ❤️ Ka
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Thanks Ka. That’s an interesting twist on life/ birthday intentions. Hugs and blessings… 🙂
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Those are great goals. Happiest of birthdays to you!
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Thanks Kate!
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Happy Birthday, Brad! I’m glad you’re finding an outlet to focus your productivity and foster loving relationships in the real world as well as here in the blogosphere. Please know that I look here for sources of inspiration and insight. I consider this one of those meaningful relationships that are impossible to manufacture, but essential to life.
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Thanks Gabe. I hope to foster more relationship online and off this year. The feeling is mutual. I’m delighted to connect and share wit with you. 🙂
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Happy belated Birthday, Brad! May all your plans and wishes become reality 🙂
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Thanks Helen!
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Sounds to me like you have given yourself the best birthday gift ever!!!
Yes!! 😊😊😊💜💜💜
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LOL. Not what I might have picked, but acceptance is a good gift. Thanks for the reminder Lorrie! 🙂
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Happy Birthday Brad… I love how you are creating your ideal life… much love and celebrations x barbara x
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Thanks Barbara. It’s more like surrendering to where I am. 🙂
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Surrendering is part ‘creating a life’ as we allow ourself to bring our heart and soul dream to us… xbarbara
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I am late in reading this post….and so once again a belated Happy Birthday…. Everything you say makes so much sense. I think it was Einstein who said that we humans need love and work in our lives to be fulfilled, and I do believe that…and of course, community whether at work or home is part of loving. The language you use reminds me of my daughter Christie who is very involved in Landmark. Are you familiar with this ? I hope you enjoy a day and week ahead filled with peace and love…janet 🙂 x
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Wise words Janet. Community, love and more purposeful work are all so key to a fulfilling life. I’ve heard of Landmark and explored them a little. Thanks for your love and support.
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May find what you’re looking for real soon. Belated birthday wishes 🙂🙂
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Thanks Ashish and Charu and welcome to my blog. Happy adventures!
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Hello dear Brad,
I feel so bad… you will think I’m not reading your posts but because you are someone I know who responds promptly to comments, I went searching!
And as I feared, the comments under your recent few posts are missing! I’ve no idea where they went. It’s happened to me with some others too. Please don’t think I didn’t care…
I’ll hope they are in spam perhaps?
But in response to them all, I wish you a happy belated birthday and I know the connections made through here in this blogging platform will foster meaningful and real connections and even new friendships…
I always enjoy your inspiring news roundup posts too.
I do hope you find this message….
Hugs from Di 🙋🏻💐
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No worries Di. I found and appreciate all your loving comments and support. And I’m not as quick about responding lately with my jobs taking priority. Thanks for caring, keeping in touch, and the belated birthday wishes! Big hugs!
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Oh that’s good Brad… thank you for letting me know. I understand then… if I don’t hear from you it doesn’t mean my comments have gone to spam…
You are very welcome, as I also value your support and always kind words. Hugs too, and wishing you a lovely week 🙋🏻😘🌟🌟
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Thanks my friend. May we rise together…
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Belated Blessings on your completion around the sun… May the next trip be even more inspiring…
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Thanks Michael. Hopefully, I’m ripening with age! 🙂
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I’m sure you are…😊
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Belated happy birthday! May God continue to bless the very beautiful man in you.
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Thanks for the heart warming wishes Aina! Hugs…
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Hi!
Nice post! I’m making posts about scientific explanations behinde everyday appearance and other stuff so if you have time and will please go and check it out! If you like it pls follow me, I follow you.
Thank you! 😀
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Thanks for reaching out and following my blog. blessings, Brad
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Yes!
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Thanks Cynthia. It’s still a constant challenge to reach out to people and life. I’d much rather be in my cave. 🙂
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Me too. Then again, you give so much to the world, there are times you must retreat. The balance? Now, therein lies the rub.
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Exactly! Balance is an elusive target. 🙂
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