I have a spirit animal, and his name is Todd*.

You know those moments in your life, when you look back and realize “that was a moment that influenced me to change.” You might not realize it at the time–in fact, you almost never do–but whether you know it or not, something comes into your life and alters you. It doesn’t have to be a mind-blowing, earth-shattering change, either. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a person you meet, showing you what life could be like if you chose to behave just a little bit differently.

Today was one of those times, I think. I wasn’t necessarily on a path of danger or self-destruction; in fact, the way I was headed probably wasn’t even all that bad. I was just starting to make peace with the idea that I might spend the next two years in comfortable obscurity, with no one to rely on me. Integral to nothing, but safe.

Then the universe sent me Todd. In one day–just a couple of hours, really–he showed me what an incredible opportunity it was, to be here. Following him around opened my eyes to the kind of power I could have to affect change. Talk about being a big fish in a small pond. And that’s when I realized I could be one too.

Anyway, I’m not sure yet where this altered perspective will take me. But I do know that there are places to go, if I choose to go there.

 

*Name has been changed for optimum humor.