My 70th Birthday Manifesto


I celebrated my 70th birthday in February 2009, and found it more challenging than I had expected. It just took a little longer be comfortable with than I had expected. On the day itself I decided to write down the beliefs I wanted to take with me into the next phase of my life. These are my beliefs, the ideals I try to embody. Some days I do better living by them than others. They are in no particular order. You will recognize some of them as coming from other sources.


I posted them on my bathroom mirror, and they do help me shape my days. I am grateful for the years I have spent arriving at a place where these are my values.


You may want to try writing your own.

• I choose faith over fear.
• I live in a continued state of gratitude for all I have been given.
• My purpose in life is to be of service to others.
• I choose being loving over being right.
• I compassionately allow others to follow his/her own path.
• I rejoice in the good fortune of others.
• I never wish for or intentionally do harm to others.
• I have faith in the Ultimate Goodness of the universe.
• I accept that suffering is a necessary part of life.
• I never take things personally.
• I think before I speak, and speak only in love.
• I do not have to be the center of attention.
• I know that I am never alone; loneliness is something I create.
• I create something of beauty every day.
• I am not afraid of making mistakes or looking like a fool--- it’s the privilege of age.
• I try to embrace humility—seeing myself as one among many, neither better nor worse than other people.
• I believe in the unity of all Creation, and work to unite rather than divide.
• I give my best to the world and don’t hide my God-given gifts.
• I care for my body-- its the only one I have.
• I believe in abundance, not scarcity.