A marker event is something that, upon looking backward, changed the course of your life.

One of my favorite quotes is the early 19th century Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard’s famous “Life is best understood backwards, but must be lived forwards”.

Looking back at your life for marker events is a very valuable exercise. At the time, many of these events do not seem life changing, but in retrospect they dramatically altered the course of your life.

There is no right way to do this. Reflect on the questions: "What are the marker events in my life? What events changed the course of my life?" Take some quiet time to list them in a loose chronological order with marker dates. Remember, you don’t need to nail them the first time. You can always add or change them later.

These are the marker events that changed my life in a loose chronological order with marker dates:

Looking back on my life the most important things that happened to me occurred seemingly serendipitously. I did not strategically plan any of these marker events.

• My family, friends and colleagues - lifetime

• Boy Scouts Heart of America Council - 1954 - 1960

• Athletics - lifetime

• Choosing dentistry as a career - 1959

• Living and practicing in Colorado - 1968- 2005

• Bob Barkley and his work - 1968

• L.D. Pankey and the Pankey Institute - 1974

• Avrom King and his work - 1976

• Carl Rogers and the Center for the Studies of the Person - 1977

Rocky Mountain Pankey Study Group - 1978

• Marrying Kirsten - 1980

• Rocky Mountain Rendezvous - 1981

• The Bob Barkley Foundation - 1982

• Art Combs and his work - 1987

In a Spirit of Caring book - 1994

In a Spirit of Caring web site - 2002

Retirement from private practice and a life transition to coaching or mentoring dentists - 2005

I have learned that I need to pay attention to these seemingly serendipitous happenings. Looking back on my life, the most important things that happened to me occurred this way. I did not strategically plan any of these marker events. They are part of my Soul's Journey and only make sense looking backward and when they are looked at as a gestalt*.

What does your listing of your marker events tell you?

For more Kierkegaard quotes go to: Soren Kierkegaard Quotations Index 2 : Quotes at Quotatio

Soren Kierkegaard - Søren Kierkegaard - Danish Philosopher - Biography

*Gestalt - definition of gestalt by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.