It’s one of those moments most teenagers dream of.

It’s the moment that you’ll remember where you were and who you were with.

It’s also the moment where your mind feels like it’s on speed dial.

And it’s a moment that you’ve experienced at some point in your life.

What I’m referring to is becoming the proud owner of your first car. And this is made official when you receive the “pink slip”…also known as the car title with your name on it.

And along with the “pink slip” is the new sense of independence as a teenager ready to take on the world.

I can relate very well to this. I got my first car a few months before graduating high school at the ripe age of 18. It was a red 1972 Toyota that had no power steering. But I was grateful to my step father for giving it to me.

And as fate would have it, three days before my high school graduation I got hit from behind…on the way home from my last day of high school.

The car was totaled. In fact, I can still remember feeling the tingling sensation going down my spine as I was hit. Thankfully I escaped with only a sore neck for a few days.

Even though my car was completely totaled it still didn’t bother me that much. Why?

Because I still felt a sense of freedom. It was as though the ice had been broken and new adventures were in store for my life.

Now let me ask you…

What is your pink slip in life? Do you even have a pink slip for life?

And what I mean by that is…

Do you feel like you’ve broken the ice in the different areas of your life? Do you feel like new and inspiring adventures are coming your way?

If your answer is “no” look to see if you’re frequently saying “I have to”, “I’ve got to”, or “I’m supposed to” in the activities you do throughout the day.

This feedback acts as your guide and is there to get you to be your true self.

And you’ll know you’re on the right path when you find yourself saying “I love to”, I’m inspired to”, “I’m blessed to”, and “This is what I’ve always dreamed of doing.”

That’s when you have your “pink slip” for life.

Also beware of the other “pink slip.”

Not only has a “pink slip” meant being the owner of a new car, it was also a termination notice given at your job. In other words you got a pink slip when you got fired from your job.

So here we have another example of how the world is two sided…a pink slip can be seen as positive in one situation and negative in another.

And you’ve received both “pink slips” throughout your lifetime.

However…

Now is the time for you to have the pink slip for freedom in your life. The freedom to do what you love and love what you do…

The freedom to live your life’s purpose.

And if you’re not sure of what that is yet, here’s a good way to start getting clear on it:

1. Look at what is most important to you in your life. These will be the “I love to’s”, “I’m inspired to’s”, and I’m blessed to’s.”

2. Recall the different moments in your life that have inspired you most.

3. Look for the common characteristics among the people who inspire you the most.

4. Write down the most meaningful actions you’ve taken or the skills you’ve developed along your career path.

5. Recall the feedback you’ve received from others based on the different things you’ve done. For example, if you love to write and you notice over time that people are consistently complimenting you on your writing then you know you’re on track and that your purpose is likely to involve writing.

And once you do this you’ll be “writing” (pun intended) your own pink slip for life.

I quite often hear many people talking about getting older. And in most cases I’ll hear them say how terrible it is to get older.

But remember this…

You cannot get older without also getting younger. And as I like to say…

“Every day that goes by you get older in wisdom and younger in vitality.”

And when you have your pink slip for life, it’s like being that teenager once again getting your first car.

It’s also that feeling of remembering the people you were with, the places you were at, and the wonderful gift you’ve been given…the gift of life.

Those are the special moments in your life.

And always remember to appreciate today’s special moments because they’re also tomorrow’s memories.