On Birthdays and Intentions

Today is my fiftieth birthday.

It’s a milestone in everybody’s life and it is for me, partly because it has demonstrated again the power of setting an intention – a strong, deep, seriously-committed intention to something that really matters.

Sure, I’ve set intentions before. I’ve said, “I intend to get this project done by Friday.” and “I intend to start that new habit.” But only twice have I made deep intentions from my heart and soul. And twice the intention has manifested – big time!

The first time was when I intended to get off the bleachers and onto the playing field of love during the year 1996. I did get onto the playing field, engaging for months in a game of romantic hide-and-seek with one Don Giberson. On December 21, in the final minutes of the game so-to-speak, we made it official with our first kiss. Two and a half years later, I married the guy.

This past year, I said I intended for my fiftieth year to be transformative and it has been an awesome year! Here are some of the things I’ve done:

• I got clear about my purpose after coasting without direction for way too long
• I found a way to support my body as it loses weight
• I became excited about working as a life coach and started training with people who see the world as I do
• I decided to contribute to the world by becoming an interfaith minister – I start classes this weekend
• I had the immense privilege of visiting Africa, a trip that changed my life
• I have been inspired to assist in the advancement of Africa and I am excited about the possibility of working with my sisters in Tanzania.

While you can’t really see the transformation on the outside – no significant weight loss, no new business yet, no projects in Africa yet – I am SO transformed on the inside. And that is where it starts. I am more excited about my direction than I have been in years and I know that I am moving every day closer to fully expressing the things that are important to me.

Setting intentions with your heart and soul, as well as your head, can create huge positive changes in your life. What huge change do you want to make? Set an intention deeply and strongly, and watch it take shape.