Category: English

Most of us have a favorite number. In my case the number is 8. In some way, shape, form or another it repeats itself in my life in many different ways. Similarly, I’m convinced if my favorite number were some other number, the same thing would happen.

Our mind creates our reality and we become what we think about. At this time, the number 8 has once again manifested itself into my reality. We are in the eighth month of the year 2008 and this Lunar Letter is #64 (8 x 8). Five years ago I began writing the Lunar Letter and what started as a spark of interest has become a habit which allows me to literally touch thousands of people every month.

The Olympics in Beijing started on 8/8/2008 at 8:08 PM. The number 8 for the Chinese is their lucky number and it signifies prosperity. Telephone numbers and license plates which contain many 8’s are frequently sold for a lot of money. In spite of the intense heat in China during early August, the Chinese decided to initiate the Olympics on this date because of the importance of the number 8 in their culture.

Another event which highlights the importance of 8 in my life right now is that I have just published my third book which is titled, 44 in a Row, 44 to Go. The book expresses my desire to live to be a healthy and energetic 88 year-old. Though I don’t know for sure if I will get there, I now have it as a guiding force. By reading these words you now know it as well. I have no other recourse than to do my best to keep my word.

Often it is the small things which make a huge difference in our lives: making a phone call, attending a conference, or taking time to meet with a friend. These events, little though they may seem, can be the start of something great. For this reason, it isn’t what we know rather what we do with what we know which is most important.

Any number, as such, really doesn’t have much significance. It is when we give a number power that it becomes important. The same thing happens with our thoughts. We have thousands of thoughts every day. The majority of them come and go without greatly influencing our lives. When we give importance to our ideas and thoughts we can go far with them.

Instead of letting time pass, we can pass time thinking about what we can do to more fully enjoy this marvelous journey. Life is not always as wonderful as we would like it to be. Nevertheless, we can begin to see what is wonderful in our own surroundings. Life is incredible and becomes interesting when we take time to observe the little things which together create this reality we call life.

May your life be full of crazy 8’s. May it be replete with the same luck and prosperity the Chinese give to the number 8. Coincidentally, if you knock an 8 on its side and hook it up with another 8, you have two infinity signs which are intertwined. For you, my Lunar Letter friend, I wish you infinity of bouncing back from the most difficult circumstances.

May the bounce be forever with you!

∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL II 14

A burning desire is the best way to achieve our objectives and convert our dreams into reality.

Why do we get up every day?

What is it that makes us do what we do?

If the answer to these questions is clear and concise, more than likely we have a well-defined burning desire which will serve as a compass to achieve our objectives. On the contrary, if the answer is hesitant and lacks a strong “why,” we can begin to define our burning desire.

For those who have followed my writing, you know the idea of a burning desire is one I integrate into much of my work. I first came across the idea of a Burning Desire about 20 years ago when I read Napoleon Hill’s classic book Think and Grow Rich. As is the case with so many things, the idea started first as a seed which sparked my interest. As I read the book again some years later, the idea began to take form as a sprout which poked its head through the ground.

On December 13th, 2001, the idea expanded further and the roots which would give stability and form to my burning desire began to take hold in the soil which through my life experience was at last fertile enough to foster the growth of the seed which was planted many years before.

Napoleon Hill’s work is the culmination of years of interviews with the most successful people of his time. In a nutshell, he suggests we first determine exactly what it is we desire and then decide what we are willing to give in return, since there is no such thing as “something” for “nothing.” An exact date and definite plan to achieve our desire should be followed by immediate action to put the “pedal to the metal,” so to speak. Finally, he suggests writing out a clear, concise statement of our burning desire accompanied with reading the statement aloud twice a day to integrate the idea into our being.

When we define our burning desire, we create the best road to achieve all we want in life. While our goals and objectives are often “things,” a burning desire is usually “something” which relates to being useful to others.

It is important to take time to reflect upon and define our burning desire. When we lack a clearly defined objective, any road will take us to our destiny. Too frequently we arrive at unwanted places and spaces because we have not invested the time to define our direction. Creating and believing in our burning desire is the most important step to assure a life full of intention and intensity.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL II 13