It’s just about 10 o’clock at night. In 2 hours time, the clock with strike midnight and I will flee from the ball, run down the stairs, loose my shoe but have to keep running…

Wait…that’s not right…

In all seriousness, midnight does hold significance for me today. It marks the end of an era: the end of my 29th year. As the clock strikes midnight, I move into my 30th year and turn 29.

I’m never one to make a big deal about my birthday. I really don’t like to be fussed over, or to be the center of attention. Quite frankly, I would rather shine the spotlight on those around me. A cake, some candles, and lots of love are really all I need to celebrate my birthday.

Birthdays are kind of like New Years Eve. You look inward, take stock of where you’re at, look back at the previous year and see what you can learn for the next one.

Each year brings with it its fair share of adventures, sleepless nights, smiling from ear to ear, random acts of kindness, love, surprises good and bad, the end of one path and the beginning of another. However we choose to categorize the experiences of our lives, it’s all completely dependent upon our own unique perspective of the world. Rose colored glasses? Glass half empty? How do you see the world? How would you like to see it?

On my flight back from NYC last month, as we were making our descent into LAX and still fairly high up in the sky, I saw an 18 hole golf course. I put my thumb up in front of me and closed my left eye. My thumb covered the entire golf course as I gazed out with my right eye.

Ah. A lesson is perspective if I’ve ever seen one.

At thousands of feet up in the sky, the 18 hole golf course is nothing but a small dot I can cover with my tiny finger. At ground level, the same golf course can look daunting to some, exciting to those who find the idea of spending 4 hours chasing a tiny ball around 18 holes fun (ahem….dad!!….).

Tons of unique perspectives. The exact same golf course.

The truth is, whether you like it or not, the only thing we have any control over in our lives is our perspective: how we choose to react, how we choose to feel when someone says something we don’t like, does something we do, and everything in between. The only difference between a good life and a great life is the story we tell ourselves about the world around us.

I know it sounds simple, but I believe it to be so. I wouldn’t be where I am today, filled with life experiences I wouldn’t trade for anything, if I didn’t understand that my perspective is a choice, and that I should choose one that works for me. It’s a constant battle, don’t get me wrong. But it’s worth the fight.

How do I do it? Every 3-6 months, I write my goals down. I look back over the previous ones and see what I can check off. Most of the time I’m pleasantly surprised and find myself wondering, “how the heck did I pull that off??”

In addition to writing my goals down, every 3 months, I answer 6 questions from The Psychology of Achievement by Brian Tracy:

1. In 30 seconds or less, write down the 3 most important goals in your life right now.

2. What would you do it you won $10 million in the lottery tomorrow?

3. In looking back over all the things you have done in your life, what type of activities, what sorts of things, what sorts of circumstances give you your greatest feeling of importance, of mental well being, of self-esteem? What makes you feel the best?

4. What great things would you dare to dream if you knew you could not fail?

5. What would you do if you found out you only had 6 months to live?

6. What would you never get involved with again if you knew then what you know now?

And now a 7th question of my own:

If you were to choose the perspective that the universe is fruitful and will support you in you goals and dreams, what would you do with 20 seconds of insane courage?

I would love it if you would share the answer with me, but totally understand if you would rather keep it to yourself.

Whatever you do, on my birthday, I ask you to create the space for your 20 seconds of insane courage. I will send you love in support so that you may live the life you’ve always dreamed of if you’re not already living it.

Love, love, love,

Lauren

xxx