When my eldest daughter turned thirty, I wrote her a heartfelt note in her birthday card: “Thirty is the age where you’ve lived long enough to realize some of what you want—and what you might have missed out on.” The sentiment wasn’t just for her; it was a reflection of my own life. Thirty was the year I began seeking self-actualization and embarked on the biggest adventure of my life. It was when I switched gears and started saying yes to possibilities.
Looking back, I could see the missed opportunities I had let slip away.
• A trip to Paris in my teens with my Mom, her boyfriend, and his daughter, but I had rebelliously said, I’m not interested in France.
• A week-long excursion to attend a three-day long wedding in Ladakh, India, overlooking the Himalayan mountains, but I’d said, “I don’t want to be away from my kids that long.”
• A company-sponsored move across the country right after my first daughter was born. We said no, “Because I didn’t want to be that far from my family.” We didn’t even go on the free scouting trip.
I’d missed out, and the biggest theme of all of it was that I had made all those decisions based on fear. With that realization, I committed to Lead an extraordinary life.
Finding the Extraordinary in the Everyday
One definition of extraordinary from late Middle English: from Latin extraordinarius, from extra ordinem ‘outside the normal course of events’. So how could I, a stay-at-home mom and wife in suburbia, live an extraordinary life?
I didn’t need to pack my bags and move to a foreign country or live a grand, unrecognizable existence. Instead, I could find the extraordinary in the everyday—one small decision at a time.
I started by saying “Yes” more often.
A friend asked if I wanted to join a women’s indoor soccer team, and my initial reaction was to say no. I’d never played soccer in my life! But I remembered my commitment to embrace new experiences, so I said yes. That one “yes” set the stage for something bigger: I became the team’s goalie and learned a whole new skill.
When I shared with a few of the soccer women my intention to live an extraordinary life, they jumped on board, and the five of us became a group of women that ran 5K’s, celebrated each other’s birthdays in extraordinary ways, and lived beyond our stay-at-home wife and mother existences.
The Turning Point: A New Narrative
Over time, my simple commitment to “yes” led to profound changes. I started businesses, invented a product, and even told a story about my worst date on stage in front of an audience. Each experience taught me to see life as an adventure waiting to be lived, not a series of obligations or fears to avoid.
My biggest YES to date has been to write my Extraordinary Life Seeker Series. The books share the idea that anyone can transform their life by taking small, intentional steps outside their comfort zone. From the protagonist’s perspective, readers see how every person and place holds the power to change our thoughts and expand our understanding of what’s possible.
Each place one goes to has the ability to change one’s thoughts and opinions. The book’s biggest push is to think about how one can expand one’s now into what one might imagine one’s life could be.
In the series, the Author asks that each of her five traveling books be passed along until one finds its way back to her someday, showing the possible in the impossible. Against astronomical odds, with how many people there are in the world, and only five copies to go around, the idea teases of our small world and what is truly possible if people work together. It punctuates that anyone can help with the little things.
The books also show how impactful a single interaction can be to someone. How each of us has great power to change lives, whether for the good or the lessons that can be shared. How each of us has a story to tell, even when we don’t think we do.
Lessons from the Journey
Through my experiences, I’ve realized a few key insights about living beyond the mundane:
Every extraordinary moment begins with a simple yes. Whether it’s a new hobby, a conversation with a stranger, or a leap into the unfamiliar, saying yes opens doors to experiences we never imagined.
• Start Small, Build Confidence
You don’t need to climb Mount Everest to live an extraordinary life. Start with something manageable—like joining a team, learning a skill, or visiting a new place.
• Cultivate a Spirit of Adventure
Adventure isn’t about where you go; it’s about how you see the world. Look for opportunities to break the routine and approach life with curiosity.
• Share Your Journey
Extraordinary moments often grow when shared. Whether it’s forming a group or passing along an idea, collaboration magnifies the magic of saying yes.
• Embrace Imperfection
Not every yes leads to success. Some may lead to lessons or even failures. Embrace them all—they’re part of the journey.
Now, as I reflect on how my life has evolved, I think about the next phase of my adventure. What’s possible when we say yes not just to extraordinary moments but to helping others find their own? This question fuels my writing and my relationships. It reminds me that the extraordinary is contagious: when we take risks, we inspire others to do the same.
Living beyond the mundane doesn’t require a radical reinvention of your life. It starts with one yes, one moment of courage, and one step outside your comfort zone. What will your next “yes” be?
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