Today is my husband’s birthday! In Brian Thomas Gibson’s honor, I wanted to reflect on some of the wisdom I have gained since we met. He is a vibrant badass in his own right and inspires me to grow into the best version of myself.
“It’s a great day to have a great day.” I’m a very positive person but by husband might have me beat in that department. This is one of his favorite sayings and shows the leadership style he brings into his job as a restaurant manager. We are great at helping each other handle stress in life and seeing the good in our lives. Every day is a new chance to do amazing things and spread good vibes into the world.
Freedom and friendship. Only thing we cheers to. Anytime we cheers with friends or strangers, this is what Brian says. He got it from a friend of his who has passed away and every time it gets said is a celebration of life and the friendships that make life worth living.
The joy of doing nothing. On some of Brian’s days off, he completely relaxes. In contrast, I am usually working on a list of dozens of things to do in my downtime. The idea of doing nothing still doesn’t come naturally to me but I have embraced slowing down instead of always being on the go. Today on his birthday, my present to him was to not plan anything and just let him decide what he wanted to do throughout the day. In the midst of our fast paced lives, slowing down and doing nothing is rejuvenating.
Life generally works out. There are so many times in our lives where things unexpectedly or magically happen to our benefit. I don’t know if he has great karma with the universe or his positive vibes manifest good things but whatever it is is working. He has taught me countless lessons about what deserves my stress vs. what I should not worry about and it has changed my life.
Exploring restaurants. Ordering lots of different foods and sharing is more fun that ordering for yourself. Brian is really amazing at looking through a menu and finding the best things to order. In the last six years, we have shared thousands of meals at restaurants around the country. We never get bored because we try new places all the time. Our love of food pairs well with our love of travel. It’s so fun to meet new people and learn about the place we are visiting through its food scene.
Always take care of the people who take care of you. Brian goes out of his way to be kind to people especially in his job where he deals with hundreds of people each day. When we go to other restaurants, we are patient and nice to all of the staff because we understand what goes into doing their jobs. Especially in the pandemic and now, anytime we go out, we make sure to tip well and take care of the servers and bartenders. The world can be bizarrely small sometimes and it is so fun when someone remembers you doing something nice for them or someone they know. Brian doesn’t act this way wanting anything in return but there have been lots of time when people have reciprocated kindness in unexpected ways.
The pleasure of spontaneous fun. Related to this is the concept of planned spontaneity which is planning enough of what is needed and allowing space for random adventures in the downtime. I used to be very type A, planner of everything but sometimes over planning can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety for me. By embracing the opportunities that the world offers in the form of spontaneity, I have been able to do more things than I ever could have planned for. I’m so stoked for all the things in store for our lives together that we can’t even dream about yet.
Style and confidence. If you have ever been around my husband, you probably noticed that he is usually rocking amazing shirts and kicks. He started wearing graphic short sleeved button downs (SSBDs) way before they were cool. Brian has become my personal stylist because he has the better sense of style in our relationship. With that role, he has picked out some amazing outfits for me and drastically upped my shoe game. At 30 years old, I’m the most confident in life and in my body that I have ever been. This is largely due to my sweet husband and the way he sees me and treats me.
I can’t wait to see what is in store for Brian’s last year in his thirties and all the fun memories we will make this year together. If you know Brian, what are some life lessons you have learned from him? Let me know in the comments!
