Happy Birthday

Today is my birthday. 44. All lived with intensity and intention. That means I’ve done what I wanted. Not always, of course, but almost. And anyway I have always done what I thought was most appropriate at the given time.
I ‘ll celebrate taking some time for myself and then with a small group of friends. It was a nice summer and the next Autumn and Winter are looking very busy. I am happy, I am where I want to be and with whom I want to be. My head is full of extraordinary memories and a very exciting future ahead of me.
I have thought long and hard whether to write it or not. When you write, things remain. And one can give words the meaning one wants. My last post brought up comments of every kind. Some people took me for a pro-American, some for a pessimist, for others…beautiful!
Dedicating time to myself and my family today, will certainly make more comments come up. Officially dedicating my birthday to my parents may sound cheesy. Well, this is my blog, after all, I am responsible for what I write, so I do what I believe in.
I dedicate it to them because I am here thanks to their act of love. In the last Coaching Lab looking at Virgina Satir work, we all remembered that we have never seen our parents as when they were first engaged. I wonder what they got up to! I wonder what happened before, during and after that night of love. I wonder if it was at night. I wonder what they did to bring me up well, how they made sure I had everything I needed, how they decided, educated, protected, let me fly away… Some things I know, some I can imagine now that I am on the other side and I know some of them I’ll never be able to imagine.
When they were still here I liked to make them tell me what happened today 44 years ago. My mother in the hospital as my father hurriedly closed the shop to be with her. Luck made me be born on Saturday evening after closing time (those days on Sundays everything was closed). My mother of course said it was me that was a good boy in choosing to be born that day at that time!
One thing is sure. If it hadn’t been for them, today I wouldn’t be here and I wouldn’t be this way. Sure, courses, coaching, books, experience have forged my life, but my imprinting is Caterina and Franco.
So today I toast to them. I raise my flute of good Champagne, just the way they used to like it. I enjoy the day. I enjoy the moments that have passed and the ones to come (many) in their honour.
Then I will toast to you because, one way or another (if you are still reading), you are part of my life. So, cheers!

Claudio