A birthday review

It was my birthday last week and I had the pleasure of hosting a party for many of my friends at a local event theatre and bar in the artsy part of town (Queen street). For me this was a culmination of a birthday celebration and a screening of the documentary I developed from my trip to Africa. It detailed my climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro, an African Safari, and a fundraising effort complete with a visit to a local school.

As most of you would have scene from last Thursdays post, the 3 minute YouTube clip gave an overview of the climb and the charitable portion. What it did not cover, that many saw at the party on Friday, was comments of lessons I learned while I was there. (Side note, I hope to be posting the entire documentary on YouTube very soon.) One that I want to focus on is taking stock of your current situation. Many of us walk through life, attempting to keep up with the Joneses focusing on happenings in the past or wants and needs for the future, and being present is often a challenge. I think it’s important to think about the future, to fire the creative passion on things you want to accomplish and goals to strive for, and it’s important to chunk those goals out in small parts that can be focused on in the present. Additionally, it’s important to take gratitude on a regular basis for the great things in your life. It’s fairly easy to do. A great way to start is to make a list of 10 things that you are grateful for in your life, or as some other wise people say, what are the ten magic moments in your life.

Take some time in the next couple days and write them down. I know you can recount them in your head, but the power of putting them on paper is like nothing else. Of course, you will have that list to refer to when times are stressful or you just need a little boost of energy. When you’re done with that list, I would encourage you as part of a daily ritual to ask yourself in the morning what you are grateful for today. I know it sounds a little woo woo (thanks for the term Adam) but it always seems to put a smile on my face (and others who do it) in the morning. Sometimes for me, its great friends, great family, an inspirational moment from the previous week, the ability to keep coming up with creative posts or from last week to celebrate my birthday/documentary screening with great friends. In that moment I was present, really taking in the joy of what I had accomplished with my trip to Africa, being surrounded by friends, sharing a great adventure for me. I actually said to myself in that moment, wow this is special.

I know everyone else would be curious to hear one of your magic moments in life. For many of you it may be the birth of a newborn, an exciting trip, a simple pleasure in life, a great ski run, or an island breeze on vacation.

First thing that comes to your mind, put in the comment box or reply to me…..What is one of your magic moments in life?