#thisis12

Annual birthday traditions are big in the Rapp-Levin family, often to our collective spouses’ incredulity. But I al adamant about my now annual tradition of taking our eldest to the #usopen for the women’s finals each year as a mother daughter experience. Here are the top 7 things we learned during this year’s NYC adventure on the eve of Ms. Audrey’s golden birthday coming up on 9/12:

(1) You have to take every battle in life one point at a time. It is necessary albeit insufficient to getting a win.

(2) 99% of most battles in life are won in the mind.

(3) Start strong, finish stronger.

(4) The #usopen gets more fun year after year.

We added in a new dimension to this year’s trip: some NYC tourist activities. We went to see the 9/11 Memorial and Museum for the first time together. There we learned:

(5) We study the atrocities in history “lest we forget” and let those mistakes repeat.

(6) There is no greater privilege than having been born an American and it is our responsibility to honor and show gratitude to those who defend us and our country each and every day so we can continue to live in this land of abundance, and in freedom.

(7) And on a far lighter note, we closed out the weekend with the first official birthday meal of this golden birthday week, where we were reminded that #gunklesarethebest.