They Say it's Your Birthday!

Saturday the 19th of November 2005, marked yet another milestone in my life. I turned 31 years of age.

I have always found birthdays a great time to reflect upon the year that has been. I know for me, I often get so focused on what I am trying to achieve in life that I can often find it challenging to spend regular time in reflection. So when milestones such as birthdays, or seasonal changes come along, I relish the moment to ponder upon a life unfolding.

My year spent in the youngest decile of the thirty-something’s, in many respects has been one of the most personally rewarding and fulfilling of my life. It has also been one of the most challenging. So in my own reflection and with fingers glued to my keyboard, I thought I’d share my 7 key learning’s from the year past.

(1) Make the most of every moment!

One of the thoughts that permeates my mind on a regular basis, is the fact that I’ve been given this extraordinary opportunity to live life. Each of us has been given such a short time to walk this planet.

For this reason, it is so important that you do the things that you personally want to do, not because it will please anyone else, but because it is a true expression of who you are.

(2) Learn in Action!

“When I want to read a book, I write one”.

I read this quote by Benjamin Disraeli earlier this year and it had quite a profound effect upon me. It is great to learn from the experience of others, but nothing beats just getting out there and having a crack at things yourself!

(3) Stand up when you fall down.

Muhammad Ali said that “a champion gets up when he can’t”. If you are walking the path least travelled there are going to be times when you fall down. All you really need to do is make sure that you stand up one more time than you fall!

When you have big dreams, big hopes and big aspirations you are bound to hit a few hurdles along the way.

(4) Spend time with people who are in love with life!

Love is infectious. Spend as much time as you can with people who are in love with life. And when you can’t be around people who are in love with life, dream about being around people who are in love with life.

Trust me, the energy will rub off on you!

(5) Don’t put things off until tomorrow.

In the western world we have been sold into a ‘pension mentality’. We spend our entire working lifetimes doing the things that we don’t enjoy in the hope that one day we might be able to enjoy a comfortable retirement.

Don’t get caught up living for tomorrows that never come. Don’t buy into someone else’s pipe dream. True and deep fulfilment unfolds a day at a time. Live for the magic and wonder of today!

(6) You don’t need to know everything.

You don’t need to know everything before you can succeed. Often too much knowledge will only serve to confuse you.

What’s needed is passion and excitement for the things that you do. Whatever knowledge you need to acquire along the way will naturally flow as a result.

(7) Go after your dreams.

Be bold enough to go after your dreams. This is your life. You are the one writing this movie. You chose the characters, you chose the locations and most importantly you choose the dramas. Just remember to choose wisely because you’re the only one who has to sit through the entire film.