The Pivot: Birthday Courage
The Pivot: Stepping Out on Faith: A Note from One SisterFriend to Another
This April series is about The Pivot: doing the unusual on purpose, trying in the face of fear, and stretching past the limits we quietly place on ourselves. You don’t have to have the whole plan–just the willingness to take the next brave step. The Pivot is what happens when you stop letting “I’ve always done it this way” make your decisions. It’s curiosity with a little courage.
It’s stepping out on faith…even if your voice shakes. And for Black, Brown, and Indigenous women who’ve had to be “responsible” all their lives, play and dreaming can be its own kind of bravery.
SisterFriend,
I encourage you to pick one small thing that excites you, and give it a try.
Let’s see what happens.
SisterFriend Reflection: The Pivot: Birthday Courage
”Hope is a song in a weary throat.”
—Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray
Every birthday, I have a tradition. I do something I’ve never done before. Not because I’m chasing thrills, but because it’s my way of interrupting comfort. It’s designed to stretch me–gently but intentionally–so I don’t live my life on autopilot.
Sometimes the “new thing” is small. Sometimes it’s bigger. But the point is always the same: choose something that reminds me I’m not finished yet. I still have the courage and curiosity to change the direction of my journey.
One year, I spent the day at The Met Cloisters. It was beautiful–quiet, expansive, the kind of place that makes you breathe differently. Another year, I tried selling Avon. And let me tell you…I learned quickly that this wasn’t my thing. (Blessings to every person who can do it well. I am not that girl.)
But even that was a pivot in its own way. It reminded me that trying isn’t the same as committing. You can test something, learn from it, and move on without shame. That’s part of living courageously.
This April, I turn 65. I haven’t decided yet what my “new thing” will be. But I can feel the question in the air already–the same one I feel every year: What is life asking me to try next? What might move me just a little beyond what I already know?
I call it a nudge. Some people call it intuition. I call it faith.
That’s the Pivot.
Not always a dramatic reinvention. Sometimes it’s simply choosing something new on purpose–before fear talks you out of it. Before the familiar tells you, “You’re fine. What’s the point? Stay here.”
So I’m asking you, too:
Is there something you’ve been thinking about–reluctant to try, but secretly excited about?
It doesn’t have to be huge. It could be as simple as choosing a new signature fragrance. Trying a dance class. Going somewhere alone for the afternoon. Or finally learning a language you’ve always been curious about–Japanese, maybe.
A pivot doesn’t begin with certainty.
It begins with courage and curiosity.
Purpose Meets Strategy (Take 10 Minutes)
Write down one thing you’re curious about–but keep postponing.
Name what excites you about it (one sentence).
Name what makes you hesitant (one sentence).
Choose one small “first try” you can do this week.
Put it on your calendar (date and time), even if it’s only 10 minutes.
Make the first step so small you can’t talk yourself out of it.
May you let curiosity lead you more than fear.
May you remember it’s never too late to do something new on purpose.
If this reflection resonates with you, share it with a SisterFriend who might need it today.