Dear Happy Asses,
I’m thinking I want a beginner’s mind, full of enthusiasm and wonder for what lies ahead. I love that thought, and even more, I want a beginner’s heart.
Part of being a beginner can feel a little scary, but it’s also exciting because you’re open and willing to listen to the advice and guidance of others. You’re filled with possibility, curious about what’s yet to come. You’re not jaded or overly critical of yourself or others. Your mind and heart are wide open and ready to receive.
My favorite part of being a beginner? That delicious moment when you believe there’s a finish line, that as soon as you “get it,” you’ve arrived. Of course, we know that’s not entirely true, but in that stage, you can’t wait to learn so you can pass it on. Hopefully, as we grow and gain wisdom, we remember that promise to give away what has been so generously given to us.
The truth is, there is no arrival date. There’s only a growing season, and if we’re lucky, that season lasts until our last bloom of life. Every time we master something, a new learning place awaits, and with it, the adventure and wonder begin again.
Here’s the beautiful secret: the only way to truly keep what we’ve learned is to give it away. When I hold too tightly to what I think is mine, I miss out and I don’t want to miss out. I want everything God and this life have for me.
So my hope and prayer for you today is this: wake up with a beginner’s mind and a beginner’s heart. Remember how far you’ve come, and as you grow, reach back and take another of God’s precious kids along with you.
I’m so grateful you’re part of my Happy Ass tribe. I believe we’re all just beginning together and that we will make an impact on others. That, my friends, is what it’s all about.
With the biggest sense of wonder and enthusiasm,
Karen Key Smith
