Written by Daz Burns
My thoughts at 40!
I want to first preface that I am fucking pumped to be turning 40!
I know it sounds up my ass, but it is seriously a privilege that I do not take for granted.
Too many wonderful humans that I knew and loved have not had the opportunity to get here.
So for them, I only bring excitement, appreciation and a genuine desire to kick the shit out of the next 40 years bringing my quirky, quintessential weird vibe to the world.
So, lock in whānau, I’m here for it.
And, now that I managed to get three swear words into the opening paragraph, it can only go sideways from here haha.
The inspiration for this blog came from a question I read a while ago (to the author who introduced this question to my thinking, I truly apologise, I can’t remember where I read it, but thank you).
“What would my motivational half time pep talk be to myself?”
It seems fitting right?
40 years deep.
At least another 40 on the horizon if I am lucky enough to get there.
Words of wisdom flow through my veins these days, ready to distribute to the younger generation like tic tacs. 👀(jokes).
A half time pep talk could happen anywhere right?!
But from my sporting background it should be in the changing room, so, let’s set an accurate daily scene that is my typical environment and standard routine in my bathroom aka changing room…
We’re standing naked in front of the mirror after a morning shower, it’s 6.15am.
We’ve just been to the 5am gym class and it was a fucking grind, you didn’t try as hard as you know you could have… you went light on your weight choices and you didn’t boogie and sing joyfully as you wandered around like you normally do.
You’re now standing in front of the mirror, naked, thinking of every excuse possible to not put your contacts in your eyes, even though you know they control your keratoconus disease progression.
You put eye cream on and wonder why it isn’t helping with your ever growing bags under your eyes.
You wish your nose wasn’t crooked and red.
You put moisturiser on your body and focus on all of the jiggling and cellulite on your belly, your thighs, your ass, the back of your arms.
You manage to reach down to your feet and notice the stray black hairs on your big toes and wonder what the actual fuck is happening.
You look back at yourself in the eye and you curse the constant crop of black hairs breeding on your chin (Imagine Debrah Cox’s song playing “How did you get here, nobody’s supposed to be here”).
You’re already tired because of your hypotension and rough sleep and you are wondering what reserves you will lean on today to pull up and get through.
We are VERY zoomed in today.
But, honestly, we are very zoomed in everyday.
Even in the midst of a fast paced morning, where time is precious, THIS is what you choose to think about.
How punishing.
Is this seriously what a morning conversation with yourself should be like everyday?
Let the half time speech commence…
No fucking way mate.
No more.
Time to zoom out.
Look up.
Look out.
“Doubt yourself and you are coming straight out of the gate already behind” (thanks Kevin Hart).
You have learnt so much in your first 40 years.
You have so much to be proud of.
How are you still in this spiral?
Do you see those next 40 years?
Do you see the shenanigans you want to instigate?
Do you see those three beautiful children who look up to you?
Do you see those three beautiful children who look just like you?
Do you see your beautiful Mum who looks like you?
You think they are all the most beautiful things you’ve ever seen.
Well, guess what buttercup, they look JUST like you.
And they all think YOU are beautiful too.
What would Sammy have given to be here with stray black hairs for just one more day?!
Where the fuck do you think you are going to get if you talk to yourself like a piece of shit?!
What fucking shenanigans do you think you are going to achieve if you talk to yourself like a mysogynstic asshole who doesn’t like women?!
Batman wouldn’t smash himself like this everyday.
Stop it.
Your “head is filled with broken mirrors” (thanks Lady Gaga).
Double down on the things you know are true (thanks Nick Siaianni).
Step up and show up for yourself, every day!
Mornings set the tone, so lift.
Channel the original Bring it On Cheerleaders from the 2000’s.
“I’m sexy. I’m cute… I’m strong and I’m loud. I’m gonna make you proud!”
You said you are tired.
Get tired of hearing the same old negative bullshit.
Energy is currency girl, so invest it wisely.
Loving yourself loudly is a full time job, no days off!
Now, we’ll pause my half time speech there for a moment to firstly thank you, the reader, for tolerating my “truck drivers daughter swear word waterfall” so far… (it isn’t over yet. I feel like it really spices up this yarn) but a quick reflection for you all mid speech feels right before we wrap this half time speech up in style.
So, what does that girl in the broken mirror really need?
She needs a fucking hug.
She needs a high five for getting up at 4.15am to get to the gym.
She needs to see herself as a bloody ray of sunshine who sets the vibe and tone for her whole whānau.
She needs to know that her tomorrow self relies on her today self changing the record and changing the game.
She needs to have her own back, literally, and love the fact her body is still able to do cool shit.
She needs to understand and believe that she is more than what she sees in the mirror.
She needs to pause and insert a circuit breaker before letting the harsh thoughts infest her thinking for another day.
She also needs Dame Julie Andrews to sing her the “I have confidence in me” song (just one time if you are available Julie, I can fit in with your schedule… and I promise I will put clothes on).
When YOU look in the mirror tomorrow, ask yourself, “what does that girl looking back at me really need today?”
Alrighty whānau, imagine we are bringing the team back together for some final thoughts before they run out on to the court to turn the game around and win the final to add to their legacy…
You know better, so do better.
Today is today.
You are you.
Tits up. Chin up. Ass out.
Get going girl.
It’s on you.
Show up for yourself.
You only have 40 years left.
It’s not long.
What will you do and see in the next half?
We haven’t seen the best of you yet.
No parking on the dance floor.
Make it matter.
Start.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – END OF MOTIVATIONAL HALF TIME PEP TALK – – – – – – – – – – – – –
So, regardless of what year of your life you are in “what is your motivational half time pep talk to yourself?”
Share it with us! ✌️
