Eight

The number 8.

Until recently I didn’t think much of it.  We all have numbers that are our favorite number.  Numbers that represented us in sports, or ones that have special meaning.  As I was preparing to leave the military for a year I found out that on the day I was to separate, I had been in the military for 8 years, 8 months, and 8 days.  I chuckled to myself when I heard that because I graduated in ’08 (aught eight!!!) Ironic coincidence, I thought.  On my year off, I have decided to do two big trips, the first to start shortly after I have moved back to Kentucky.  A close friend pointed out to me that I was going to begin my trip on February 8^th, 8 days after becoming a civilian.  She said that that was too many 8’s to be a coincident, that God was trying to tell me something.  So a month into my trip, on March 8th, I felt like it was time to share this post with everyone.

I did some research and looked up a few different characteristics that the number 8 represents. Here are some of the facts I found and my response to them.

“8 is the symbol for infinity. 8 is the number for power on the material plane.”

“Some of the more recognizable traits of the 8 are drive, ambition, authority, efficiency, organization, management, discipline and control.”

I feel like a fair amount of those traits represent me and my character.

“The 8 is goal-oriented, focused, has good judgment, can discriminate and is practical, a realist.”

This is fairly representative of the journey that I have begun. I’ve been focused on my trip and myself. I have set goals for myself that I wish to obtain in this year. I have set goals for this trip that I want to see and follow. As much as possible also I want to be practical in everything. In how I spend my money, how I spend my time, how I focus on me.

“If the 8 appears in your cycles, especially your Essence cycle, there is an increase in energy and focus, a sense of “can do,” and enhanced self-confidence.”

I think this is slightly comical.  There has definitely been an increase in energy in EVERYTHING that has happened these last few months.  Also an increase in focus as I focus on my plans and myself.  Unintentionally I have an increase in “can do”.  Ha, I don’t really have a choice, so much of this trip will only happen if I make it happen.  This last month has really gotten me out of my comfort zone and proved to me that I can do certain things and that the only way a trip or plan is going to happen is if I do it myself. No more waiting around for someone to suggest something or initiate a hi, I just have to dive right in, literally. Through this I am gaining even more self-confident.  Most of you probably already think I am fairly self-confident but let me let you in on a little secret, I can’t stand social situations where don’t know people, it makes me nervous as all get out.  But it’s been really nice, this last month, to confront this fear and realize that 99% of the time people are really friendly, helpful, and nice.“8 represents balance, specifically between the material and immaterial world. The shape of the 8 shows balance, but it also shows confidence, as it looks you right in the eye.”

Confidence without cockiness is something I want to strive to be better at. I don’t want to have the cocky American stigma when I travel, I want to be respectful but confident. Balance. This whole year is all about balance. Work/life balance, goal expectation balance, physical and emotion balance within myself. So much of my life is surround by the material world. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing but I want to increase my experiences and memories. I have been so focused on job and career but now it is time to focus on experience and memories, the intangibles. Because combined all these things will make me a better person. That I what I want to strive for this year. Being the best person I can be so that when things get tough I will have all the best tools to succeed. From past experience I know I can, but when God presents you with an opportunity to better yourself even more, you would be stupid not to accept. So cheers to the number 8 and all it will represent in this upcoming year!