Mojo at 39 -39 Life Lessons

On Friday I celebrated my 39th birthday, it’s been a blast and I always feel very blessed each year I reach a new number.  I love birthdays.

Here are 39 lessons from this year, most of course I already knew but it’s nice to stop, reflect and get a wee reminder of what matters.

1. Our age on earth is just a label.  Never let a number hold you back from living, a new age is just an excuse for a party.  So milk it.
2. Or don’t milk it if you don’t feel like milking it. You are allowed to celebrate however you want, even if that means just chilling and doing nothing.  It’s your life.  Expectations can spoil the fun.
3. Homemade rhubarb compote makes a great breakfast addition.
4. If you are a dick then ‘be sure your sin will find you out’ (Numbers 32:23).
5. Don’t let gender stereotypes or any stereotypes make you feel bad or weird for being different.
6. There will always be things on the ‘to do list’.  So drop the pressure and get the mind still every day.
7. If it makes you happy and isn’t harming anyone or the planet, then SCREW IT AND DO IT.  Often.
8. Wear sunscreen all year, especially on the cloudy days.
9. Bright colours help to lift our mood.  Buy some bright hoodies, paint, flowers, sofas.  Eat more bright foods.  Follow the bright.
10. Cold water remains amazing for the mojo.  Just tune into your body and do the research.  It’s easier than you may think to catch hypothermia.  You can build up your tolerance though.  I’ve now got a cold plunge pool for the garden and am excited about keeping this habit consistent over the winter.  For swimming ideas check out my vlogs here.
11. Exercise is amazing for the mojo but leaving the house to do it can still feel SO hard even when you know it’s amazing for the mojo.  Sometimes you need to be firm and kick your butt out the door.  You will barely regret it.
12. People with a ‘fast metabolism’ rarely sit still.
13. I like sitting still.
14. Some days a nap is more important than exercise.
15. We all need to be reminded of how awesome we are.  You are awesome by the way.  Really awesome.
16. Regrets are a waste of time. So is remorse.  All we need is love.  Learn from mistakes and move on.  Time is so very precious.
17. If you get angry and raise your voice that is ok, you are human.  But it’s good to apologise for it.
18. It’s great for our kids to see us apologise when we screw up.
19. Nature helps us to connect to our soul.  We need a fix of it daily.  It’s especially important if you have young kids.
20. Often the people that feel the deepest are the most vulnerable mentally.  It’s amazing to feel.  It’s a gift to have that much passion and emotion.  Don’t play down your feelings, cry, laugh, hug, gush, express yourself.
21. Secrets can be exciting but they can also make us sick.
22. Standing whilst you type is a good way to get movement each day, our bodies need to move.
23. Back ache is often brought on when we don’t move enough, look after your back.
24. Be mindful of how much positive content and words you take into your mind vs how much negative content.  Make an effort to find a better balance.  It’s important.
25. Don’t try to pretend you’re perfect because you are not.  That doesn’t mean that you are not worthy of love and capable of amazing things.
26. Writing your feelings out is really good for you.  Creating is really good for you.  We are all creative, we all need a creative cave and outlet.
27. Releasing negative energy is important.  Write it out, run it out, talk it out, box it out, dance it out – just get it out.  If you are struggling to cry, play sad songs or watch a sad movie and let it all out.
28. JOMO (Joy of missing out) is a thing.  Think before you say yes.  If you are a yes person this will be hard.  But take time to think and remember that your time is important.  Help others but help yourself too sometimes.
29. Sticking your head out of the window every night and breathing in the night air is a great habit that is easy to make consistent.  Look up at the stars and the night sky every single day.  Gaze in wonder and get into bed feeling thankful.
30. Giving friends or family permission to scream, shout, cry and let it all out is important.  Sometimes just being there is enough.  Sometimes a long hug is enough.  Sometimes there are no words and that is okay.
31. Always pack comfortable shoes.
32. Use your good china on a Monday morning.  Don’t wait for Chrstmas day to live your best life.  Open the champagne.
33. Listening to your gut requires pressing pause.  Press the pause button each day in your own way.
34. Your own way is the best way.
35. Your value is not placed on a number or a stat.
36. Focus on one thing at a time, not lots of things.  Put first things first.  Your mind and body will thank you for it.
37. Fear can be crippling but there comes a point when we need to stand tall and give it the middle finger.
38. Setting aside time to cook something from scratch is always worth it.  Put some music on and dance whilst you chop and stir. Twerk in the kitchen.  Twerk like you mean it.  Go to town, shake it, work it, own it.
39. If you don’t love yourself then take the time to learn to love yourself and practise some self compassion.  It’s not your fault if you have ever been made to feel unlovable.  You won’t fit into everyone’s box and that is ok.  Boxes can be uncomfortable.  Make your own box and paint it all the colours.  Life will never just be black and white, embrace all the shades.  Embrace being.  Embrace yourself.  You got this.

Thanks to Asda for gifting me this delicious birthday cake from the new ‘extra special’ range.  This one is Belgian chocolate and Seville orange and goes great with a glass of Sauterne dessert wine.

 

 

Jojo Fraser is an award-winning author, podcaster and keynote speaker, dubbed as ‘the Queen of positivity and a kindness advocate.   She is a Tedx speaker and a regular speaker on BBC Radio.  Jojo is known for normalising discussions around our mental health, making it accessible and relatable to all.  She has quickly grown a reputation for having a huge impact even on the most sceptical of people.  She has a huge passion for helping people to get their mojo back.

Contact her at – mummyjojoblog@gmail.com or across social @jojofrasermojo

Follow Jojo’s popular podcast here, which is dubbed by her global listeners as ‘free therapy’.  A new series will launch in Autumn.