Before long, this question evolved into a regular jest among my circle: “Bentley or G-Wagen?” However, when Mansa, Ewurama’s cousin, paid a visit with her husband, I had no inkling that sharing my birthday car dilemma would kickstart a series of events. In October 2022, a FedEx package arrived on the eve of my 49th birthday with “The Birthday Journal” inscribed on the box. Opening up this package revealed a framed cover page reading, “Image is Everything: The Bentley vs. The Mercedes G-Wagen.” Mansa’s surprise elevated my birthday plans to a whole new level. Now I had a visual of what seemed possible. (Step 2: Visualise it!). June 2023 rolled around quite quickly. It was four months to my milestone celebration, and the idea of a 50th birthday adventure to Las Vegas with friends sounded great. The only hitch - I still hadn’t decided on the car. In a chat with Mansa, she asked if I had chosen a car. To my surprise, I confessed, “No, it won’t be the G-Wagen or the Bentley.” Those words hung in the air, and Mansa, ever curious, asked, “Any particular reason?” My response, “I don’t like either,” revealed a deeper truth - I hadn’t truly explored my interest in these cars. The price had dominated my thoughts, overshadowing the appeal of driving a luxurious masterpiece. Talking to Solomon Preko, who mentioned his neighbor owning a G-Wagen. Despite the opportunity to test drive it, I turned it down, inadvertently neglecting my own desires. This served as a poignant reminder that, in the pursuit of others’ happiness, we often sideline our own. I had to remind myself that achieving this goal was my responsibility and no one else’s. (Step 3: Self Motivation. You can do it!) August brought a turning point as I shifted blame, telling Ewurama, “You don’t seem concerned about my car-buying dilemma.” Her no-nonsense response, “How about we go look at cars this weekend?” marked the start of a real journey. We explored BMW, checked out Range Rover, fell in love but faced a 9-month wait. The destiny I’d overlooked all along surfaced - the G-Wagen. Testimonials boosted its appeal, especially one saying, “The hardest part of buying this car is the price, and the easiest part of owning it is the maintenance.” One morning, lying in bed, I asked Ewurama, “What do you think about me getting the G-Wagen?” Her straightforward “You deserve it” lit a fire under me. Scouring the internet, we found a G-Wagen at a local dealership. We visited, took it for a spin, and it felt like driving a beast – rugged yet luxurious. (Step 4: Get to Work) Negotiations continued for another two weeks, testing our patience and determination. Then, on the morning of the purchase, as the sun painted the sky with promise, I woke up early. With hope in my heart, I whispered a prayer to the heavens, “Giveme a sign, dear Lord.” The signs poured in like a waterfall of blessings. My wholemorningwas full of positives: I didn’t trip and fall, the boys didn’t call me from school that they left something at home, Ewurama didn’t text me that the school kidswerebeingbad,mysiblingsandparentsdidn’t send any negative texts. Signs poured in like blessings, affirming my decision. Looking back at The Birthday Journal, now a year old, I marveled at the power of speaking dreams into reality. (Step 5 Affirm it! Achieve it!). The G-Wagen, more than a car, stood as a testament to selfacknowledgment. It was a reminder that sometimes, in life’s theater, you must be your own leading star. The journey from a simple idea to a roaring engine beneath me showed me the incredible power of setting goals and taking the steps to bring them to life. No fancy words needed – just a simple reminder that dreams aren’t just for sleep; they’re for driving. So, set a goal. Why wait?” 48 The Birthday Journal
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