Monday was my birthday, one of my favourite days of the year.
I look forward to the celebrations, the cheesecake, and the time spent with family and friends.
I also enjoy having a moment to reflect on where I’m at and where I want to be.
Some things are great, while other areas could use some improvement.
So, as I do a few times a year, I renewed my commitment to work on what’s not going as well as I’d like in my life.
Generally it means trying to be a better person.
Kinder, more helpful, and more focused on important things.
People have a lot of different feelings about the impending arrival of their birthdays.
Sometimes it’s the day itself.
Some people enjoy getting fussed over (ME!) and other people just want to be left alone.
In some cases, the passing of another year just makes you feel like older.
You’re tired.
You don’t feel as confident about your body as you would like.
Maybe you realize that you haven’t made the progress that you would have liked since last year.
Perhaps your bank balance isn’t what you want or you don’t have the time to spend with your family that you crave.
Birthdays present an opportunity to reflect on where you’re at and where you want to be.
They can make you think about the past or motivate you to plan your future.
A milestone birthday – like 30, 40, or 50 – can make you feel a certain way too.
Are you where you want to be at this particular milestone?
I’ve had many people come to me for Coaching several months in anticipation of a milestone birthday.
“I want to be in the best shape of my life at 40!” is something I’ve heard a few times.
“I haven’t been making my health a priority and now that I’m going to be 35 I want to make more of a commitment.”
It’s ok to use these signposts along the road to assess whether you’re travelling in the right direction.
Taking the time to reflect and be mindful about your needs and wants is something you should be doing regularly.
Many of us just race through life, going to our routines, without a focused plan to achieve our goals.
Without a clear vision for where you want to be, you won’t make progress.
You need to know where you want to be so that you can determine the right steps to get there.
Birthdays give us a chance to hit the pause button and check in on ourselves.
Are you happy with the life you’re living?
Are you proud of what you’re achieving?
Sometimes it takes just a moment to have a realization that can change your life.
I always find that surrounding myself with family and friends is a good reminder of what matters.
The best life is filled with love, connection, good food, physical activity, and being comfortable in your skin… no matter what your age.
So the next time you hit your birthday, remember that you have control over the direction you’re heading.
Age is just a number that tells you how many years you should be grateful to have been living so far.
Do the best you can at each stage and you’ll have a life of meaning, year after year.
