When I started blogging in 2006, I met this fantastic group of women in the blogging community called “The Women of Midlife.” Sharon Greenthal and Anne Parris created the group for female writers. These women seemed to have it all together. They knew exactly who they were and what they were willing to deal with. Fast forward a bit, and I am officially midlife.
I celebrated my 45th birthday this week. I’ve thought about turning 45 more than I care to admit. I decided the alternative isn’t great, so I’ll stick with loving birthdays. Plus, as my daughter said, I’ve done a lot in the first 45 years. Who knows how much I’ll be able to accomplish in the next 45.”
While thinking about who I am at midlife, I realized that I have a lot of mantras I live my life by. These are things I’ve said repeatedly, picked up from others, or quotes I really love. They’re packed full of advice that I give myself and share with people I love who need them too. So, today, I’m sharing them with you.
45 Mantras I Live By at 45
Here are 45 mantras I live by, in no particular order of importance. I’ve attributed them when I can remember the source or where they came from. I didn’t attribute it when I quoted my mentor repeatedly. That’s what he gets for being my mentor. Take what you need and leave the rest for others.
1. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
2. Report the news, don’t be the news.
3. You come to your writing alone.
4. Once you know better, do better.
When the ideas are coming, I don’t stop until the ideas stop because that train doesn’t come along all the time.”
Dr. Dre
6. If you don’t like where you are, move. You are not a tree.
7. Don’t be a victim of your life.
8. Self-care is anything you do to take care of yourself.
9. I’m more concerned if you don’t have feelings.
10. If you think everyone hates you, take a nap.
If you find that writing is hard, it’s because it is hard.”
William Zinsser
12. Have big kid conversations.
13. Marriage isn’t work. If you’re working hard, you’re in the wrong marriage.
14. I have a shovel and a plan
15. I no longer stay in rooms where I’m not valued.
Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodies?” “But who will guard the guardians?”
Roman Poet Juvenal
17. If it doesn’t open, it’s not your door.
18. It doesn’t matter what you read — just read.
19. You’re smart, but everyone here is smart. Work harder.
20. Write until you’re done.
You happen to pull this shit while I’m in a transitional period, so I don’t wanna kill you, I wanna help you.”
Jules, Pulp Fiction
22. You have the freedom to be ignorant, and that’s the one you exercise the most.
23. If you could just push that out of your brain, what could you fit in?
24. No one cares how busy you are, how tired you are, or what happened at the airport.
25. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
26. Be careful what you teach them because that is what they’ll know.”
Managers make widgets. Leaders make change.”
Seth Godin
28. Put your ass in the chair and write.
29. Life’s tough. Get a helmet.
30. Be the adult you needed as a child.
31. Done is better than perfect.
The ants have megaphones.”
Chris Anderson
33. You can learn anything if you work hard enough.
34. It’s just a bad day. It’s not a bad life.
35. Put your ass in the chair and write.
36. I’m so sad that I can never read all the books I want to read.
Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”
Mark Twain
38. Don’t tell me what they said about me. Tell me why they were so comfortable saying it around you.
39. If you want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.
40. I’m not competing against you. I want us all to make it.
I’m a feminist. I’ve been a female for a long time. I’d be stupid not to be on my own side.”
Maya Angelo
42. If I can just from the bed to the shower, I can do anything.
43. What could also be true?
44. One task at a time.
“Talk to yourself like someone you love.”
Brene´ Brown
