Lessons After A Harsh Season: Connect With Myself And Others

January, 2014

The second half of 2013 brought an extremely physical, emotional and spiritual challenge for me. And the challenge is not over yet. I won’t be among the many people who are already saying “I’m glad that year is over.” It’s not about a calendar year. Things won’t magically change on the first day of January. This rough patch is a season of life. And seasons last awhile. A season of change can last more than a few months.

I watched people close to me wrestle with cancer, aging issues, and the onset of debilitating and life-changing illnesses. Beyond all that, a wonderful woman who is a joyful spark of life lost her wonderful husband, who brought light in his own way. In an instant he was alive and well, then dead. A neighbor was raking his yard and he quietly left this earth. People are transitioning out of this life too soon. Sooner than we expected or hoped. But we don’t know how many days we are granted when we show up here. I had to pause and reflect on these questions: How am I doing with the life I have? What am I doing with it? What do I need to change? These are some of the things that came to me.

1. Let people know I care. Don’t keep it a secret. They need to know.

2. Remember the power of a smile. It changes me on the inside, and others who see me coming often join with me. It’s a great way to greet a friend I haven’t yet met.

3. Love openly in front of other people. We need to see our humaneness and connectivity in action. If I need to self-correct, do that openly as well.

4. Don’t settle.

5. Do what I am called to do. It’s for me to do and no one else can walk my path. When I have left here people should clearly know what my passion was. I should be sharing it with them.

6. Seek and I will find. If I don’t find it, review what I’ve done, re-confirm my goal, revise my plan as needed and keep seeking.

7. Love wholly. There’s no time for superficial dabbling; dive in.

8. Make sure I’m loving myself first.

9. Be grateful, especially for small things.

10. Live in all my power.

Keywords: Creating positive work cultures; Self- awareness; Teams connecting; Transforming.