My Birthday Blog

Have you arrived at that age where you don’t like celebrating your birthday anymore? Is it just another day and you’re just another year older?

Some years I don’t like getting older. Other years, it doesn’t bother me at all. As I turned 35 last month, I felt a sense of accomplishment. I looked back on the last year and felt proud of myself. I felt like I had grown as an individual, a business woman, and a spiritual being. I felt a sense of excitement and possibility about the next year ahead. “35 rocks! This year is going to be kick-a$$!” I thought to myself. As I celebrated this happiness, I contemplated why I hadn’t felt this excitement turning 34 last year. Turning 34, I was still uncertain about where my future was going. My business was only 6 months old and I was still figuring a lot of things out. For me, the unknown is just about the scariest thing in life. I am a worrier by nature, I get that from my Grandma. Not having a plan, worrying about the next step, and having fear about the future stresses me out and makes me anxious. So what happened in this last year that changed my outlook?

Clarity.

At the beginning of 2018, I asked myself some tough questions about what I wanted out of life and who I wanted to be as a person. Was I taking action everyday to achieve this life and become this person? At the time, I wasn’t and that was a wake-up call. I was struggling to keep up with working 2 jobs, trying to grow my yoga studio for “Every Body,” and feeling like I was being pulled in a dozen different directions. I felt like there was never enough time in the day. I knew something had to change. I had to look at my goals, long and short-term, and make some decisions about how I was living my life and running my business.

You may have noticed I changed my business logo around my birthday. My old tagline “Yoga for Every Body” was difficult to execute. I still believe yoga is for Every Body. However, I realized that I can not provide every type of yoga at my studio. I received requests from students and teachers for at least a dozen different types/styles of yoga, and I tried to offer many of them at my studio. At one point I had 9 different styles of yoga on the schedule! It was simply too much. I had to get clear on my vision for my studio. I am now focusing on the yoga that I love to teach; Vinyasa and Restorative. “Find your Flow or Take it Slow.” After only one month of this new schedule, I feel more aligned with my goals and my purpose as a yoga teacher.

“Clarity comes from engagement, not thought.” ~Marie Forleo

Only by taking action and making changes in my life, have I had this positive-mindset shift. For me, waking up early and accomplishing things before I teach my first yoga class makes me feel productive. I actually love waking up early now. Spending a few hours in the quiet morning, focusing on my business and my life goals, sets me up for a day of success.

So, cheers to 35! I can’t wait to see what this year brings and because I’m clear on my goals, I know I can make it happen. How are you feeling about your birthday this year? Does getting older make you a little sad? Could you set a goal and accomplish something that would make getting older feel joyful? Feel free to leave a comment below. 

elicia